A former American soccer participant has been discovered lifeless at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles, with authorities confirming the case is now being handled as a murder. Kevin Johnson, who performed for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders throughout the Nineties, died aged 55 after struggling “blunt head trauma and stab wounds”, in accordance with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. His physique was found on Wednesday (January 21) after officers responded to experiences of an unconscious man.
Johnson was pronounced lifeless on the scene, native station ABC6 reported, with detectives launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his dying. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve De Jong confirmed Johnson seemed to be residing on the encampment the place he was discovered. He stated: “Sadly, it seems he was homeless. It seems to be like he was in all probability residing there.” Associates advised ABC6 that Johnson had been battling ongoing well being issues, which they consider in the end led to him residing on the streets.
Some additionally suspected he could have been affected by CTE, a degenerative mind illness linked to repeated head trauma and more and more related to former American soccer gamers.
Nonetheless, CTE can not at the moment be identified in residing sufferers. One shut buddy, Bruce Todd, paid tribute to the previous athlete, saying: “He was my greatest buddy. I used to be one of the best man at his wedding ceremony. Nice man, fun-loving. The group goes to overlook him.”
Johnson’s skilled soccer profession spanned a number of leagues and groups. He performed in 38 NFL video games throughout three seasons, spending time with the Philadelphia Eagles between 1995 and 1996 earlier than becoming a member of the Oakland Raiders in 1997.
He later continued his profession within the Enviornment Soccer League with the Orlando Predators and the L.A. Avengers.
The New England Patriots initially chosen Johnson within the fourth spherical of the 1993 NFL Draft out of Texas Southern College, the place he was teammates with former defensive finish and present Good Morning America co-host Michael Strahan.
Johnson by no means performed a down for the Patriots and was launched later that summer time. He later performed for the Minnesota Vikings and the Raiders earlier than the Eagles claimed him in August 1995.
His most efficient interval within the NFL got here early that season, when he recorded two sacks towards the New York Giants, adopted by a fumble restoration towards the St. Louis Rams that he returned 37 yards for a landing.
Johnson was launched by the Eagles in December 1996, then returned to the Raiders for the 1997 season. CTE has remained a serious subject throughout American soccer, with rising scrutiny on the long-term results of repeated head accidents.
The situation returned to the highlight in July 2025 after Shane Tamura killed 5 folks, together with himself, inside a New York Metropolis constructing that housed an NFL workplace.
A word discovered on Tamura instructed he believed he was affected by CTE after enjoying highschool soccer.
