Rondale Moore bought his mom a house when he was first drafted by the Cardinals -- in the second round in 2021 -- and that's what I first thought about when the news came out Saturday night that he had died at the age of 25.
The wide receiver told the media that he was getting the house during a training camp interview, even though he hadn't yet told his mother yet. He smiled at that notion, but Moore was smart. It always felt like he knew exactly what he was doing. It made the events of Saturday night a blindside.
Moore died in New Albany, Indiana -- where he was from, where he bought his mom the house. The New Albany police said it was from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, although it is still under investigation.
"We are devastated and heartbroken by today's news concerning Rondale Moore," the Cardinals said in a statement. "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who loved him and had the privilege of knowing such a special person."
Moore was with the Cardinals for three seasons, although the offense never quite found a role in which Moore could flourish. He was traded to Atlanta in 2024 for quarterback Desmond Ridder but suffered a season-ending knee injury in a training camp practice. He signed with the Vikings last year, and then suffered another horrific season-ending knee injury in Minnesota's first preseason game.
"We are all heartbroken by the fact he won't continue to live out his NFL dream and we won't all have a chance to watch him flourish," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said in a statement.
Hollywood Brown, who shared the wide receivers room with Moore in Arizona, tweeted that he had just messaged Moore earlier Saturday.
He sent another tweet later.
