Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said he was “devastated” by the news of Moore’s death.
“While Rondale had been a member of the Vikings for a short time, he was someone we came to know well and care about deeply,” O’Connell said in a statement. “He was a humble, soft-spoken and respectful young man who was proud of his Indiana roots.
“As a player, he was disciplined, dedicated and resilient despite facing adversity multiple times as injuries sidelined him throughout his career. We are all heartbroken by the fact he won’t continue to live out his NFL dream, and we won’t all have a chance to watch him flourish.”
Moore’s former coach at Purdue University, Jeff Brohm, had offered a tribute on X, formerly Twitter, calling Moore “a complete joy to coach”.
“Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone,” Brohm said. “A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale, we loved his smile and competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact with.”
After starring at Purdue, Moore was a second-round draft selection by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2021 NFL draft.
He was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in March of 2024 and suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp that year.
He inked a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings last March but suffered a season-ending knee injury in their first pre-season game.
Former teammates reacted to Moore’s death on social media. J.J. Watt, who played with Moore in Arizona, posted on X: “Can’t even begin to fathom or process this.
“There’s just no way. Way too soon. Way too special. So much left to give. Rest in Peace, Rondale,” Watt wrote.
– Agence France-Presse
