On Feb. 21, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Associated Press. He was 25.
Moore’s tragic, unexpected death sent shockwaves through the NFL. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell released a statement. Future Hall of Fame pass rusher J.J. Watt, Moore’s Arizona Cardinals teammate, shared he couldn’t “father” nor “process” the news. Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown posted an emotional video about mental health.
Moore’s funeral was held in his hometown, New Albany, Indiana, on Friday. Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts attended and had a strong message for other former teammates of Moore who didn’t.
“Crazy how only about 6, maybe 7, of your teammates in the NFL showed up for you today smfh,” Pitts wrote on his Instagram Story alongside a photo of Moore’s funeral program. “All that talk and fake emotion, and nobody wanted to show up to lay you to rest. Just at a loss of words.”
Pitts continued, “Be woke on who your ‘Brothers’ really are, who really rock with you in all areas of life, not just in front of cameras or in the public! Folks just want to throw up a post and not mean it.”
Pitts did not specify which of Moore’s former teammates attended and which NFL players he called out, but it doesn’t matter. The sentiment is the point.
Moore and Pitts were briefly teammates with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. Moore suffered a season-ending torn ACL during a joint practice in August 2024 and never played a down in Atlanta. The Vikings signed Moore in March 2025. History repeated itself in the worst way when Moore suffered another season-ending knee injury while fielding a punt in the Vikings’ preseason opener on Aug. 9.
Moore was once a football prodigy. In 2018, as a Purdue freshman, he led Division I football with 114 catches, and his 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns led all Big Ten receivers. He won the Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Moore’s 2019 and 2020 seasons were compromised by injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic, but he was still a high-level draft prospect.
The Arizona Cardinals drafted Moore in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but, sadly, injuries prevented his progression. A groin injury limited him to eight games in 2022. When healthy, he struggled to recreate the magic from 2018. Arizona traded him to Atlanta in March 2024. Moore left the Cardinals having posted 135 catches, 1,201 yards, and three touchdowns across three years, while also serving as a returner. Moore’s final NFL regular-season game was on Jan. 7, 2024.
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