The news of Rondale Moore's untimely passing, suspected to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, has left his friends and loved ones in a state of profound grief. His NFL colleague, Marquis "Hollywood" Brown, with whom Moore shared the Arizona Cardinals' locker room, has expressed his shock and sorrow at the loss of his friend.
"Bro ain't no way," the Kansas City Chiefs player wrote on February 21st. "Brotha you just messaged me a few hours ago." Brown went on to share numerous messages of condolence and insights into his relationship with the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver.
"You weren't alone, bro," Brown wrote in another message. "I told you I know how you feel." He also shared a screenshot of a text he had sent to Moore back in August, around the time the NFL player tore his ACL for the second time. The message reminded Moore that even when "stuff doesn't go as planned," to remember that "God is in control."
"I'm here if you ever need to talk," Brown added. "I know how s--t it feels; it sucks, dawg, but knowing you, you're built for this; don't give up." The 28-year-old wrote above the screenshot, "I love you, bro. I always wanted to speak life into you."
Moore's journey in the NFL was cut short by injuries, but his impact on those who knew him was indelible. After playing at Purdue College, he was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He played for three seasons before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons, where he was later placed on the team's injured reserve following a knee injury received during training.
Despite his brief tenure with the Vikings, Moore left an indelible mark on the team. "He was someone we came to know well and care about deeply," said Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell in a statement. "He was a humble, soft-spoken, and respectful young man who was proud of his Indiana roots. As a player, he was disciplined, dedicated, and resilient despite facing adversity multiple times as injuries sidelined him throughout his career."
"We are all heartbroken by the fact that he won't continue to live out his NFL dream and we won't all have a chance to watch him flourish," O'Connell continued. "My prayers are with Rondale's family, friends, teammates, and coaches as we all deal with this tragic news."
