Former NFL Player Kevin Johnson, 55, Found Deceased at a Homeless Encampment in Los Angeles — Here's What We Know

Before deputies arrived and before a name surfaced, there was only a call about an unconscious man in a quiet stretch of South Los Angeles, another emergency in a neighborhood already familiar with hardship.

The Los Angeles County sheriff's officials responded to reports from the Willowbrook area, just before 8 a.m., near the 1300 block of East 120th Street.

What they found would soon prompt a homicide investigation and ripple through both the local community and the wider football world.

Authorities said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators quickly determined the circumstances were suspicious and turned the case over to homicide detectives.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the victim suffered "blunt head trauma" and "stab wounds," and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Detectives believe the man had been living at the nearby homeless encampment and are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

Who the Victim Was

The victim was later identified as Kevin Johnson, a former NFL defensive lineman. Johnson was 55.

Johnson, a Los Angeles native, played professional football in the mid-1990s, suiting up for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders from 1995 to 1997.

After his NFL career ended, Johnson continued playing in the Arena Football League with the Orlando Predators and the Los Angeles Avengers. Sheriff's officials said Johnson was found in the Willowbrook neighborhood of Los Angeles County.

What Investigators Are Saying

Authorities believe Johnson had been living at the encampment at the time of his death. Speaking to Newsweek Sports, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Steve De Jong confirmed that assessment. De Jong said:

"Unfortunately, it appears he was homeless. It looks like he was probably living there."

Investigators have not announced any arrests and are continuing to gather information, urging potential witnesses to contact law enforcement.

Friends Reflect on Johnson's Life

Friends told ABC7 that Johnson struggled with health issues later in life, challenges they say eventually led to him living on the streets.

Some of those close to him believe his health problems may have been connected to CTE, a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma.

Despite those struggles, friends emphasized that Johnson remained deeply loved and continued to make an impact on those around him.

Bruce Todd told Eyewitness News:

"He was my best friend. I was [sic] best man at his wedding... Great guy, fun-loving. The community is going to miss him."

Johnson's death underscores the often-hidden struggles faced by former professional athletes after their playing days end, as well as the dangers confronting people living unhoused.

Reaction from the Football Community

Following confirmation of Johnson's death, the Las Vegas Raiders organization released a statement mourning his passing and honoring his time with the franchise.

"The Raiders Family mourns the loss of Kevin Johnson. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Kevin's family at this time," the team's website read, noting that Johnson played one season with the Silver and Black in 1997, appearing in 15 games.

CTE Concerns in Professional Football

Former NFL player and CTE advocate Chris Nowinski also weighed in, citing Johnson's case as another example of the long-term neurological toll faced by former players.

In a post on X, Nowinski said Johnson's friends believe cognitive decline linked to CTE contributed to his homelessness, adding that ongoing public discussion around the condition remains critical.

In a reply to that post, another person reflected on the nature of professional football itself, pointing out that players are compensated to engage in repeated high-impact collisions.

At the same time, fans often celebrate the violence of the sport and only react with concern once injuries become visibly severe, highlighting the broader systemic issues surrounding player safety and brain trauma.

As detectives work to piece together what happened in the early hours before his body was discovered, friends and former teammates are left mourning a life that once thrived on the football field and ended under tragic circumstances. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

As the investigation continues, Johnson's death has left behind more questions than answers about the violence that ended his life, the systems meant to protect former athletes, and the quiet precarity faced by those living on the margins.

For those who knew him beyond the stat lines and jerseys, he is remembered not only as a former professional football player, but as a friend, a teammate, and a presence whose loss will be felt long after the scene in Willowbrook fades from view.