Police Reportedly Investigating Death Of Former NFL Player Kevin Johnson As Homicide

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is reportedly investigating the death of former NFL player Kevin Johnson as a homicide.

The former football player was allegedly discovered dead near a homeless encampment Tuesday at the age of 55, according to TMZ Sports. The medical examiner determined Johnson’s cause of death was blunt head trauma and stab wounds, the outlet reported.

The circumstances leading up to the athlete’s death remain unclear.

A former defensive lineman for the Eagles and Raiders is found dead near a Compton homeless camp. 55-year-old Kevin Johnson was found with blunt force head trauma and stab wounds Wednesday morning. Eyewitness News with new clues in the shocking homicide – Tonight at 11 from ABC7 pic.twitter.com/SBDSGoW1ng

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) January 23, 2026

Johnson played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders during the course of his NFL career.

He began his football career at Los Angeles Harbor College and was the New England Patriots’ 86 pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. The team released him in August of that year, and he played for the Eagles during the 1995 season.

🕊️ Former Philadelphia Eagles player Kevin Johnson has died, according to his family.

What we know: https://t.co/qfYqY2Ofgk pic.twitter.com/eiBuQZuCFE

— TMZ (@TMZ) January 22, 2026

Johnson played 11 games for the Eagles and got six sacks, 19 tackles and a “fumble recovery for a touchdown,” according to TMZ Sports.

He played for the Eagles again in 1996 and clocked 14 tackles in 12 games. He was released in December of that year. (RELATED: Famous Rapper Sues Kansas City Police Department, Demands Jury Trial)

PHILADELPHIA, : Running back Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys (C) tries to go up and over to score but is stopped at the goal line by Philadelphia Eagles defenders Kurt Gouvea (54) and Kevin Johnson (94) in the first half of their 10 December game against the Dallas in Philadelphia. The Eagles beat the favored Cowboys 20-17. AFP PHOTO/John G. MABANGLO (Photo credit should read TOM MIHALEK/AFP via Getty Images)

The athlete played with the Oakland Raiders before shifting his focus to the Arena Football League. Johnson scored a championship with the Orlando Predators in 1998.