Rodgers offers ‘love and prayers’ to Benson’s family

Former NFL running back Cedric Benson, who opened the 2012 season with the Green Bay Packers, died in a motorcycle accident in West Austin, Texas, late Saturday night. He was only 36.

Benson was a Texas football legend, starring at Midland Lee High School and the University of Texas before being picked in the first round by the Chicago Bears in 2005. As the fourth pick in the draft, Benson was a disappointment in Chicago, with 1,593 yards in three seasons, before finding stardom in Cincinnati. In four seasons with the Bengals, he broke the 1,000-yard mark three times.

He joined the Packers for the 2012 season and had 248 rushing yards in five games before suffering a Lisfranc foot injury that ended his season and, ultimately, his NFL career.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers paid tribute to Benson via an Instagram post on Sunday.

Very sad news today to hear of the passing of my friend and former teammate Cedric Benson. Ced and I became fast friends during his short stay in Green Bay, and would spend many lunch hours in the cafeteria talking about life and football. Ced was very smart and thoughtful and I always walked away from our conversations feeling like I learned something or wanted to go research something so that I could keep up with him in our conversations. Love and prayers to his family and friends, thanks CB for the inspiration, you will be missed.

A three-time state champion at Midland, Benson rushed for 5,540 yards and 64 touchdowns with the Longhorns. Only Ricky Williams has more rushing yards in University of Texas history.

“It’s an unbelievably sad day with the news of the passing of Cedric Benson,” Longhorns coach Todd Herman said. “We lost a true Longhorn Legend, one of the best running backs in college football history and a really special man. He was far too young, and my heart aches for his family, friends and the entire Longhorn community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.”

In eight NFL seasons, he rushed for 6,017 yards.

As former Bears fullback Jason McKie told the Chicago Tribune: “Our lockers were right next to each other and we didn’t even really talk about football a lot of time. We talked about life, and he had horses down there (in Texas). He was a care-free guy, easygoing. He loved the game of football and he loved to compete. He wanted to be great and he was. It sucks losing a brother. Gone too soon.”