Former NFL defensive lineman Kevin Johnson was found dead at a homeless encampment in Willowbrook, Los Angeles, in what authorities are investigating as a homicide. The 55-year-old former Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders player was discovered on January 21, 2026, in the 1300 block of East 120th Street.
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received a call about an unconscious man around 8 a.m. Johnson was found unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt head trauma and stab wounds. No arrests have been made in connection with the death.
Investigators believe Johnson had been living at the homeless encampment at the time of his death. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with information to contact their Homicide Bureau.
Johnson’s friend Bruce Todd expressed grief over the loss. “He was my best friend. I was best man at his wedding,” Todd said. “Great guy, fun-loving. The community is going to miss him.”
Friends believe Johnson may have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly known as CTE, a degenerative brain condition associated with repeated head trauma. The condition has become increasingly recognized among former football players who endured years of helmet-to-helmet collisions and hard tackles during their playing careers. CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death through brain tissue examination, but symptoms often include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and progressive dementia.
Johnson had health issues later in life that contributed to his situation, according to those who knew him. The circumstances highlight the challenges some former professional athletes face after their playing careers end, particularly those dealing with potential long-term health consequences from their time in contact sports.
Born October 30, 1970, Johnson attended Westchester High before playing college football at Los Angeles Harbor College and Texas Southern University. At Texas Southern, a historically Black university, Johnson played alongside future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan, who would go on to become one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushers.
The New England Patriots drafted Johnson in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft, selecting him as a defensive lineman. However, the Patriots released Johnson before the season began. He joined the Minnesota Vikings before the Philadelphia Eagles claimed him off waivers in August 1995.
Johnson found his most sustained success with the Eagles, playing for the team from 1995 to 1996. Over that span, he appeared in 23 games and recorded 43 tackles and seven sacks. His most memorable play came in 1995 when he returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams. Johnson also saw action in two playoff games during the 1995 season, contributing to Philadelphia’s postseason run.
The defensive lineman, who carried the nickname “Big Kev,” stood 6-foot-1 and weighed between 305 and 306 pounds during his playing days. His size and strength made him effective as an interior lineman capable of clogging running lanes and generating pressure up the middle on passing downs.
After his time with Philadelphia, Johnson joined the Oakland Raiders in 1997. He appeared in 15 games for the Raiders, contributing to the team before his NFL career concluded.
Following his departure from the NFL, Johnson transitioned to the Arena Football League, where he continued his professional football career. He joined the Orlando Predators and won an Arena Bowl championship with the team in 1998. Johnson later played for the Los Angeles Avengers, bringing his career back to the area. Arena Football provided opportunities for many former NFL players to extend their careers in a faster-paced, indoor variant of the sport that emphasized high-scoring offensive play.
Johnson’s career, while not reaching the heights of his college teammate Strahan, represented the journey of many professional athletes who contribute to their teams during relatively brief NFL careers. His productive seasons with Philadelphia and his subsequent Arena Football success demonstrated his dedication to the sport that defined much of his adult life.
