Connor Whalen ‘28

by Connor Whalen ‘28 on March 19, 2026

The NFL mourned another tragic loss when it was reported on Feb. 21 that Rondale Moore had taken his own life. The former standout receiver at Purdue University was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, showing promise as a young receiver before facing recurring injury issues. Moore was traded to the Atlanta Falcons and was later cut, then signed with the Minnesota Vikings. 

Moore’s death comes only several months after the Dallas Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland also took his own life. Just under a year ago, NFL draft prospect Kyren Lacy also took his life after being falsely accused of participating in a fatal car crash. The NFL clearly has a serious mental health issue on its hands. Concerns about CTE only grow, and players’ struggles with mental health—especially during injury rehabilitation—are only gaining more attention.

When Moore’s family held a service to celebrate the life of their lost loved one, Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts took to Instagram to sound off on the lackluster turnout. Pitts claimed that “only about six maybe seven” of the wideout’s teammates attended the service, expressing his disappointment at “fake emotion,” as many players posted to social media following his death instead of actually showing up and being there for his family. 

The death of Moore is an absolute travesty. The NFL did not just lose a special player, but also a 25-year-old man with “so much left to give,” as former teammate JJ Watt put it. The past year for the NFL reminds us that sports are only so important. The livelihood of the players and ensuring that they are provided with the right services and treatment is more important than what is simply a game. The mental toll of sports—made exponentially worse by the toxic culture perpetuated by some fans—cannot be taken lightly. 

If we can take anything from Moore’s death, it is that athletes are human and are no different from any of us. They can seem almost superhuman when we watch them on TV and see the eye-popping figures they earn, but that does not justify treating them as anything other than human. Further, Moore’s death provides us with yet another reminder to check up on our loved ones, or anybody we may think is struggling. Just a simple check-in—asking someone how they are, showing that you genuinely care about them and how they feel—means so much more than many of us could possibly realize. Pitts’ Instagram also shows the importance of really showing up, not simply posting on social media as a substitute for real human interaction. We are more connected, yet so much more alone; we can always use a reminder to be there for our loved ones, especially those feeling alone or dealing with personal struggles.