Rondale Moore Found Dead At 25
Minnesota Vikings receiver Rondale Moore was found dead in New Albany, Indiana; police said the death is under investigation and an autopsy was planned on Sunday.
Overview
Rondale Moore, 25, was found dead in the garage of a property in New Albany, Indiana, and was pronounced dead at a hospital, officials said.
Police chief Todd Bailey said Moore died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound and that the death remained under investigation.
The Minnesota Vikings said they had spoken with Moore's family to offer condolences and support.
Moore was a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft who made 135 catches for 1,201 yards for the Arizona Cardinals over three seasons, and the Cardinals said they were "devastated and heartbroken".
Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin said an autopsy would be conducted on Sunday and investigators were continuing to examine the circumstances of Moore's death.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this as straightforward news, relying on official statements and factual chronology without editorializing. They foreground team and police statements, attribute emotive language (eg 'devastated', 'tragic') to sources, avoid speculation about cause, and consistently include mental-health resources—treatment that favors reporting neutrality rather than a unified editorial frame.
Sources (9)
FAQ
Rondale Moore was a **second-round draft pick (49th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft** out of Purdue University[1]. He spent his first three seasons with the **Arizona Cardinals** (2021-2023), appearing in 39 games with 135 receptions for 1,201 yards[1]. He was then traded to the **Atlanta Falcons** in March 2024 but suffered a dislocated right knee during training camp and never played for them[1]. In March 2025, the **Minnesota Vikings** signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury during a preseason game against the Houston Texans on August 9, 2025[3].
Moore faced **multiple significant injuries** throughout his NFL tenure. In college at Purdue, a hamstring injury limited him to four games as a sophomore[3]. With the Cardinals, he missed the first three games of 2021 due to a hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve in December 2022[3]. In 2024, he dislocated his right knee during Atlanta Falcons training camp[1]. Most recently, during his 2025 preseason debut with the Vikings, he suffered a **season-ending knee injury** when he was tackled along the sideline while returning a punt[3].
The **Minnesota Vikings released a statement mourning Moore's passing** and said they had spoken with his family to offer condolences and support[1]. The **Arizona Cardinals**, where Moore spent his first three seasons, stated they were "devastated and heartbroken" by his death[1]. Multiple NFL organizations and media outlets reported on his passing, reflecting the impact of his loss across the league[1].
At Purdue University, Moore was recognized as a **dynamic deep threat with a bright future**[5]. In the 2019 home opener against Vanderbilt, he caught **13 passes for a career-high 220 yards and a touchdown** as the Boilermakers won 42-24[3]. Despite hamstring injuries limiting his sophomore season to four games, he finished that year with 29 receptions for 387 yards and two touchdowns[3].
History
6 sources