Ex-NFL And Texas Longhorns RB Cedric Benson Dead At 36 After Motorcycle Crash; Tributes Pour In

Cedric Benson, a former Texas Longhorns running back who also played in the NFL, died in Austin on Saturday night following a motorcycle crash. He was 36.

According to CNN’s Austin affiliate KXAN, local police said a van was attempting to cross an intersection when it collided into a motorcycle. A woman also died in the crash, which TMZ Sports shared a video of.

Just hours before the fatal collision, Benson had posted a picture on Instagram of a motorcycle and added the caption, “My Saturday evening.” He added heart emojis to the post.

Benson compiled over 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four seasons with the Longhorns. According to CNN, he is the ninth-leading rusher in college football history after totaling 5,540 yards. Benson’s 64 rushing touchdowns at Texas are also the second-most in the program’s history.

The late running back also won All-American honors in 2004 and earned the Doak Walker Award after becoming the best running back in the country. In 2001, Benson was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.

Benson also played eight years in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. The Bears drafted Benson as the fourth overall pick in 2005.

The late running back’s former college coach Mack Brown was among the many people who paid tribute to Benson on social media.

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“Cedric was a fine football player for us,” Cincinnati Bengals President Mike Brown said of Benson in a statement. “Our organization is deeply saddened by his sudden and tragic passing. The Bengals extend our deepest condolences to Cedric’s family.”