Rondale Moore passes away at 25: How did Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver die? All about his career and earnings

Rondale Moore Death: Rondale Moore, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver and former Trinity High School standout, passed away on Saturday (February 21, 2026), the Floyd County Coroner confirmed, according to multiple reports. He died at the age of 25. More details are awaited, as the coroner said an autopsy has been scheduled for Sunday, according to ABC affiliate WHAS. 11.

The cause of death was not revealed at the time of filing of this report, and the investigation into the matter was underway.

University of Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm issues statement

Following Moore's death, Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm, who was also his head coach at Purdue, released a statement saying that he was “a complete joy to coach."

"Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach. The ultimate competitor that would never back down to any challenge. Rondale has a work ethic that was unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale, and we loved his smile and competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact with. We offer all of our thoughts and prayers to Rondale and his family, and we love him very much!!!" the statement read.

Rondale Moore's career and earnings

Born on June 9, 2000, in New Albany, Indiana, Moore attended New Albany High School and won a state basketball championship in 2016, according to WHAS11. He transferred to Trinity High School in Louisville, where he won a state football title in 2017.

According to CBS affiliate WLKY, Moore spent his playing days at New Albany High School, where he helped guide the Bulldogs to a basketball state championship. Later he got transferred to Trinity, helping the Shamrocks win the 2016 Class 6A football state title.

The 2017 Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year and Paul Hornung Award recipient went on to play for another Trinity alum, then head coach Jeff Brohm at Purdue. In 2018, as a freshman, he had 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns and was named a first-team All-American, according to WHAS11.

He also played an instrumental role in the Boilermakers' win over Ohio State. Moore had 12 receptions for 170 yards (both season highs) and two touchdowns against the No. 2 Buckeyes on October 20, 2018, WLKY reported.

Moore was drafted by Arizona in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed with the Vikings in 2025. The wide receiver sustained several injuries in the NFL, the most recent a season-ending knee injury during the Minnesota Vikings' 2025 preseason opener, according to WLKY.

Rondale Moore signed a one-year, $2,000,000 contract with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2025 season as a free agent, online platform Spotrac reported, citing NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports. The deal included a $250,000 signing bonus and $250,000 guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $2,000,000.

Earlier, Moore played under a four-year rookie contract from 2021 to 2024. That deal was worth $6,924,241, with an average annual salary of $1,731,060. It included a $2,395,812 signing bonus and $3,370,550 guaranteed at signing.