Dylan Edwards Joins CFB World in Mourning After Minnesota Vikings WR Passes Away at 25

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Football has a short memory. Offseasons move fast, rosters turn over, and yesterday’s story gets buried by tomorrow’s news cycle. Saturday was different. A 25-year-old receiver, someone who had clawed his way to the NFL, survived trade after trade, and fought through brutal injuries just to stay on a roster, died in his Indiana hometown. Moore’s Viking teammate and RB Dylan Edwards posted a tribute. So did Johnny Manziel. The college football world stopped.

Officers discovered Moore’s body Saturday in a garage at a residence on Ekin Avenue in New Albany, Indiana. New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey confirmed the death pointed to a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. Moore was 25. The Floyd County coroner scheduled an autopsy. The Minnesota Vikings, his most recent team, said they were “deeply saddened” and had spoken directly with Moore’s family.

Moore’s college coach at Purdue, Jeff Brohm, didn’t mince words. “The ultimate competitor that would never back down to any challenge,” Brohm said. “We all loved Rondale and we loved his smile.” Here’s the part that stings: Moore’s 2018 freshman season at Purdue, 114 receptions, 1,258 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns, was the performance that put Brohm on the national map. Moore helped build that moment. He deserved more of them.

Edwards posted a tribute on Instagram with a dove emoji. No caption needed. But another voice from the football world went further, and his message had nothing to do with stats or highlight reels.

Johnny Manziel Urges The Community To Seek Help

Manziel doesn’t post like this often. When he does, people pay attention.

On Instagram on Friday, the former Heisman winner addressed anyone who was struggling directly. “To every single person out there on the doorstep of giving up, PLEASE find any way to believe that life is worth it,” Manziel wrote Feb. 21. “Check on your friends because you truly never know what somebody is going through. One text, one call can be the difference.”

Arizona drafted Moore in 2021. Atlanta acquired him next. Minnesota signed him after that, and a knee injury ended his season before he played a single regular-season snap for the Vikings. He never got his full shot.That reality, paired with the circumstances of his death, makes the tributes from Edwards, Manziel, Brohm, and JJ Watt feel less like formality and more like genuine grief. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.