A former NFL player was found dead at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles. Friends say he may have been struggling with health issues.
A former NFL player was found dead at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles on Wednesday, January 21, law enforcement officials announced.
Friends and family members of Kevin Johnson, a former defensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles, described the athlete as a "fun-loving" guy before disclosing that health issues may have led to Johnson living on the streets.
A Former NFL Player Was Found Dead In Los Angeles In January 2026
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Per ABC 7 Los Angeles, Johnson was found dead in the 2300 block of East 120th Street after officers responded to a call just before 8 AM about an unconscious man. He was 55.
The former athlete's cause of death was listed as "blunt head trauma" and "stab wounds," and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the manner of death as a homicide.
Johnson's Friends Say He Could've Suffered Health Problems From His Time In The NFL
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Investigators have urged the public to come forward with information about Johnson's death, should they possess any.
Friends of the former Eagles player suggested that Johnson faced health struggles, including CTE, later in life, which resulted in his homelessness, per ABC 7.
CTE is a brain condition triggered by repeated head trauma that can impair memory, thinking, emotion, and behavior, according to Mayo Clinic.
Despite his challenges, Johnson's loved ones described him as a stand-up citizen who had a greater impact on people than some might've realized.
"He was my best friend. I was best man at his wedding... Great guy, fun-loving. The community is going to miss him," said Bruce Todd.
CTE Has Impacted Former NFL Players
While unconfirmed, if Johnson was suffering from CTE, he would hardly be the first NFL player linked to the brain disease, according to USA Today.
Per a 2025 article, the publication cited a Boston University study revealing that 345 of 376 former NFL players whose brains it studied have been diagnosed with CTE.
Among the list of players included are Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau, Pro Bowl offensive lineman Conrad Dobler, New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, and defensive back turned TV analyst Irv Cross.
In 2025, the public's focus returned to the devastating effects of CTE after Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old-man, entered 345 Park Avenue in New York and killed four people before shooting himself.
According to ESPN, law enforcement officials believed that Tamura was attempting to reach NFL headquarters but was detoured after taking the wrong elevator.
Following his death, Tamura was "posthumously diagnosed with CTE." He also carried a note in his wallet stating he believed he had CTE and wanted his brain tested for it after his death.
Hernandez Died By Suicide, Researcher Says His CTE Was Worst She's Seen
Widespread attention shifted to CTE after Hernandez became the subject of a gripping Netflix documentary: "Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez."
The episodes chronicled the athlete's rise to fame and the firestorm that ensued after he found himself embroiled in legal battles—one of which landed him behind bars for the murder of Odin Lloyd.
The Netflix production examined the possibility of Hernandez suffering from CTE, and according to Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist and director at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, she confirmed that Hernandez had the "worst case" of the disease she'd seen.
After studying his brain extensively, McKee and her colleagues discovered the NFL player had stage 3 CTE. However, they couldn't say for certain that his CTE played a role in his aggressive behavior.
"We can’t draw a line between the pathology in someone’s brain and any specific actions someone takes," Dr. Daniel Daneshvar added, according to TODAY.
McKee continued: "It’s impossible to know precisely how the CTE impacted him, as many factors likely contributed to his behavior and actions. ... CTE likely contributed to his depression and his erratic, impulsive, violent behaviors."
Hernandez's Teammate Spoke Out About His Legal Issues
During a 2025 podcast appearance, Hernandez's former teammate, Rob Gronkowski, reflected on the athlete's "sad" legal woes, admitting he was "disappointed" when he learned of the news.
"Like, why would you do that? We got the whole world in front of us. Especially you and I as a tandem, we've got the best team out there, everything. So, it was shocking," he said. “It’s unfortunate what happened. ‘Cause the talent was just through the roof. And if we could have kept our tandem going, we could have been just truly unstoppable.”
Category: General Sports
