It's another sad story of an NFL player falling on hard times after his career — likely due to head injuries. Ex-Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Kevin Johnson was found dead at an LA encampment in what appears to be a homicide.

A disturbing story out of Los Angeles today, as the Bay Area News Group reports that a former mid- to late-1990s-era Oakland Raiders player was found dead at a Los Angeles homeless encampment on Tuesday of this week. As of Friday morning, the LA County Medical Examiner’s office has identified the victim as journeyman 1990s NFL player Kevin Johnson, who spent the 1997 season with the Raiders. He was 55.

And police are saying that Johnson’s death appears to be a homicide. Reuters reports that Johnson was not declared dead until Wednesday, but was found with "blunt head trauma and stab wounds" on his body. According to LA’s KABC, the encampment was in LA’s Willowbrook neighborhood, which is not far from Lynwood and Compton.

“Unfortunately it appears he was homeless,” LA County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Steve De Jong told Newsweek. “It looks like he was probably living there.”

If you’re a longtime Raiders fan, or if you remember the NFL in the 90s well, Johnson’s one season playing for the Raiders was the 1997 season, which was the Coach Joe Bugel year. The Raiders were a 4-12 disaster that season, but you can’t really blame a backup defensive tackle for that.

Johnson had also been previously signed by the 1995 Oakland Raiders team (their first year back in Oakland), though he was waived before the end of training camp. Johnson was quickly picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles that season, and had the best year of his career with 19 solo tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble, and another fumble returned for a touchdown.  

According to NFL.com, “Friends said Johnson had health issues later in life that contributed to his situation.”

The NFL may be sugar-coating that a bit. KTLA adds that Johnson was likely suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a common condition among former NFL players from too many hits to the head. That diagnosis cannot be confirmed until more medical tests are performed on Johnson’s body.

Related: Former Oakland Raiders Player Dies in Custody After Scuffle With Police [SFist]

Image: 21 Sep 1997: Running back Adrian Murrell #29 of the New York Jets carries the football into the end zone for a touchdown as James Folston #55 and Kevin Johnson #98 of the Oakland Raiders defend during the Jets 24-23 win at Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport