Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Kevin Johnson was pronounced dead Wednesday morning at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles County, and his death was ruled a homicide caused by blunt head trauma and stab wounds, the county medical examiner said Thursday.
Johnson’s death puts a spotlight on a onetime NFL starter who drifted far from the league after his career. Officials said he was 55 and had been living at the encampment when he was found. Detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department opened a homicide investigation while the coroner completed its review. Johnson, a Los Angeles native and Texas Southern alumnus, played parts of several NFL seasons in the 1990s, including two years with the Eagles. He later won an Arena Football League title in 1998.
Deputies responded after a man was found unconscious at an encampment in South Los Angeles shortly after sunrise Wednesday, Jan. 21. Paramedics pronounced Johnson dead at the scene. On Thursday, Jan. 22, the medical examiner’s office listed his cause of death as “blunt head trauma and stab wounds” and classified the manner as homicide. “It appears he was homeless and likely living at the location,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve De Jong said. Officials did not immediately release further details about the sequence of injuries or how long Johnson may have been at the site.
Authorities identified Johnson using records that matched his age and prior addresses and notified next of kin. Investigators said there were no immediate arrests and no description of a suspect. Detectives canvassed the area for surveillance video and spoke with people staying nearby, some of whom said they had seen Johnson in recent weeks. Friends told reporters Johnson struggled with health problems after football, and officials said those issues may have contributed to his housing instability. The medical examiner’s ruling did not cite any intoxicants and did not indicate the order of the injuries; a full report is pending.
Johnson’s football career began at Los Angeles Harbor College before he transferred to Texas Southern, where he became an all-conference defensive tackle. The New England Patriots drafted him in the fourth round in 1993. After stints with the Patriots and Vikings, Johnson found his best NFL stretch in Philadelphia in 1995 and 1996, tallying seven sacks, 43 tackles and a fumble return for a touchdown. He later appeared in 15 games for the Oakland Raiders in 1997 and continued in the Arena Football League with the Orlando Predators and Los Angeles Avengers, winning a championship with Orlando in 1998. Teammates remembered a relentless interior lineman who played heavier than his listed size.
Detectives said they are reconstructing Johnson’s final hours, including who last saw him and whether there were disputes or visitors to the encampment overnight. The Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau is leading the case with assistance from county crime-lab technicians. Investigators collected items from the scene for forensic testing and were reviewing nearby street cameras. Officials did not release the exact location pending additional witness interviews. As of Friday, Jan. 23, no public briefing had been scheduled, and the department said updates would be issued as new information is confirmed.
At Texas Southern, Johnson was part of a line that helped the Tigers to consecutive winning seasons, earning him attention from NFL scouts despite playing at an HBCU outside the Power Five. With the Eagles, he started in rotational packages and made an early mark with a strip-sack returned for a score. He battled injuries late in his career, including knee and back issues, before moving to the Arena league, where shorter fields emphasized his quick first step. Records show he stayed connected to youth football in Los Angeles for a period after retiring, before his public profile faded.
News of Johnson’s death spread quickly through former teams. The Eagles offered condolences in a brief statement, noting his two-season contribution on the defensive front. Former Raiders staffers recalled him as a “hard worker” who earned snaps with effort in practice. A man who said he had camped nearby described Johnson as quiet and willing to share food. “He kept to himself,” the man said, “but he was friendly.” A youth coach who knew Johnson in his post-playing years said the lineman “loved the game and tried to give kids a chance to learn it the right way.”
As of Friday afternoon, authorities had not announced any arrests or identified a suspect. The medical examiner’s finding of homicide remains the operative determination while detectives work the case. Officials said the next update will come when investigators release the coroner’s full report or schedule a briefing the week of Jan. 26.
Author note: Last updated January 23, 2026.