#rondalemoore

𝐕𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐖𝐑 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 25 Rondale Moore, 25, died on Saturday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey, who told multiple local media outlets that Moore's body was found in a garage. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, per WLKY-TV. Moore was born and grew up in New Albany, Indiana.

The former star wide receiver at Purdue signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2025 but suffered a season-ending knee injury during the year's first preseason game. Moore spent his first three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, which selected him with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, before moving to the Atlanta Falcons, where he also suffered a preseason knee injury that prevented him from playing in 2024.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rondale Moore," the Vikings said in a statement. "While we are working to understand the facts, we have spoken with Rondale's family to offer our condolences and the full support of the Minnesota Vikings. We have also been in communication with our players, coaches, and staff, and will make counseling and emotional support resources available to anyone in need. Our thoughts are with Rondale's family and friends during this devastating time."

The most dynamic player in college football during his freshman campaign with the Boilermakers, Moore was a consensus All-American, Paul Warfield Trophy winner and the CBS Sports Freshman of the Year in 2018, a season in which he amassed 1,258 yards receiving, 213 yards rushing and 14 total touchdowns. He only played seven games over his sophomore and junior seasons.

"Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach," said Jeff Brohm, who led the Purdue football program while Moore was enrolled, in a statement. "The ultimate competitor that wouldn't back down from any challenge. Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale, we loved his smile and competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact with."

Moore's best NFL effort was his third year with the Cardinals, his lone full professional season, when he gained 530 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns. Moore gained 1,450 total yards and four touchdowns in Arizona.

The Big Ten aligned its course with most of college football and made the announcement there would be fall football, to the enjoyment of fans everywhere. As a Purdue football fan it was definitely some good news in this abysmal apocalypse of a year because the football program isn't a source of dread as it has been in years passed. Maybe that's one of the more topsy-turvy things of 2020.

The good news didn't stop their for Boilermaker fans because the amended eight game schedule turned in to a huge break for the black and gold also. No Ohio State? No Michigan? No Penn State? No Michigan State? (Let's give them some benefit of the doubt that they're still solid.) Does AD Mike Bobinski have pictures of someone? Did money change hands? That's a very manageable schedule for coach Jeff Brohm's squad.

Now being a Purdue Boilermaker fan means you carry more than your fair share of cynicism. Perhaps it's the very manageable schedule that will get our hopes up and break our hearts this season, or it would have been if it wasn't for today's news.

Under the last two coaches there was very little Hope...well there was almost four seasons of that. Purdue football under Danny Hope and Darrell Hazell didn't have much belief and definitely very little magic. I mean Hope would have one game that got your hopes up just to break your heart the next chance he could. However, under Brohm there is more buzz and magic, you believe things could happen.

No poll was needed among Purdue fans, even after the Big Ten announced fall football. Most believed Rondale Moore was on his way to the NFL. Then it started circulating on Twitter Moore hadn't signed with an agent and was eligible to return, but still there's no way it happens. Most mocks already have him as a day two pick at worst, plenty have him as a first rounder, so why would he come back?

I thought number four was long gone but speed kills and in the blink of an eye the buzz is back for Purdue. With eight games on slate the top WR in the Big Ten, and one of the best in the country, will be suiting up for the Boilers and that's the type of magic Brohm has brought to this program. Something special can, and has, happened. We've seen it.

It has been a weird year for sports so of course my fandom is at all time high, but let's not start declaring Purdue a playoff team. Even with Moore back I don't think Brohm gets by Wisconsin, and even though I think the rest of the seven are winnable, consistency hasn't come to Purdue quite yet. That's why this season is so important because the tipping point feels like it's coming for Purdue.

Brohm immediately revitalized the Purdue dumpster fire his first season in West Lafayette. Then Rondale Moore was the sign that things had really changed when he put on the P hat. The recruiting has been something we haven't seen in Purdue and we've been teased, like the 3-0 against ranked teams two seasons ago, but it needs to be more. The talent has to lead to more W's.

Getting a 2020 season is big to continue to recruit the way Purdue has and work on building that consistency to take another step forward in the Big Ten. It's more reps for that young team, it's a season with the first year Boiler DC, and now it's another chance to see Rondale Moore highlights at Purdue. We want some Moore!

After an 0-3 start the Purdue Boilermakers made it statement at Lincoln by beating the Cornhuskers 42-28, a critical victory for the hopes of a second straight bowl appearance. Not only did coach Brohm exercise some Big Ten road game demons, but have a lot of people claiming Purdue is a better program than the blue chip, historical Nebraska Football team. That is a bold statement that seemed quite crazy coming in to this season, especially after Nebraska won last season and hired Scott Frost this off season, but it's right.

As bad as things are in Nebraska, starting 0-4 is pretty unheard of in Lincoln, I don't think there's anyone that would have said this Cornhuskers roster was worse than last year's Purdue's roster. It's probably because of the turnaround Brohm and his staff put on that really ramped up the expectations for Frost in his first season. The Boilermakers were coming off just 9 wins in four seasons under Darrell Hazell, a dumpster fire when Jeff Brohm came to town. And despite that he got them to 6-6 and won their seventh game in the Foster Farms Bowl over Arizona.

Purdue is ahead of Nebraska and can stay there. It may sound crazy, but it's true because of #4 in black and gold. If you're a college football fan you have to of heard about Rondale Moore from West Lafayette. The true freshman leads the Big Ten in receiving yards and receptions, Purdue leads the conference in kick off return yards, thanks Moore, and is 32nd in rushing yards to boot too. Moore is really good and it goes without saying that he is a program changer for Purdue. As he should be, because credit where credit is do, but Rondale Moore is a National Championship player. Moore has been the best player on the field because Purdue hasn't played another team even close to National Championship contention.

Now don't get the words twisted, Purdue will not be winning a National Championship. Moore is a player and you need a team, but that's how the Boilermakers are going to stay ahead of Nebraska. Brohm coached a very a untalented roster to 7-6 with a bowl win and then added Moore. In this next class there's five 4* players depending on where you get your rankings (TE Garrett Miller, DT Steven Faucheux, DB Marvin Grant, ATH Mershawn Lynch, DE George Karlaftis) and some services have Karlaftis as a 5* player. Now you're going to drop in a DE, DT, S, TE and another WR of Moore's caliber with this staff?