Kevin Johnson, a former NFL defensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders, was found dead at a homeless encampment Wednesday, authorities said.
Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the death as a possible homicide after the former football player was found with stab wounds and blunt head trauma, according to the county medical examiner.
Johnson, 55, was found dead after deputies received a call of an unconscious man at the 1300 block of E. 120th Street, according to a statement from the sheriff’s department. Officials with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were called, and Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
No arrests have been made in connection to the death, and officials are asking anyone with information to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau.
Johnson was a fourth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 1993 after playing at L.A. Harbor College, Texas Southern and helping Westchester Highto the 1987 2-A City Section championship. At Texas Southern, a HBCU school, he played alongside future NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan.
Johnson was cut by the Patriots and Minnesota Vikings before catching on with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and 1996, playing in 23 games and registering 43 tackles and seven sacks. He returned a fumble for a touchdown in a 1995 game against Washington.
He played in 15 games for the Oakland Raiders in 1997, his last NFL season. He played both defensive and offensive line in 1998 with Orlando of the Arena Football League, helping the Predators to the Arena Bowl championship.
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