Titans WR Murdock commits suicide

Titans wide receiver O.J. Murdock killed himself this morning in front of the high school he attended in Tampa. Murdock, who was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent last year but did not play because of an Achilles injury, was 25.

“In his brief time here, a number of our players, coaches and staff had grown close to O.J., and this is a difficult time for them,” the Titans said in a statement. “He spent the last year battling back from an Achilles injury as he prepared for this year’s training camp. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they try to cope with this tragedy.”

Titans head coach Mike Munchak told reporters on Saturday that Murdock had not reported to training camp because “he had some personal things come up. He called us, and we're hoping to see him tonight.”

A Tampa police officer found Murdock “in his car in front of Middleton High School with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound” at 8:30 a.m. Monday, according to a police statement. He died two hours later at Tampa General Hospital, police said.

Murdock was one of the top high school football players in Florida in 2005 during his senior year at Middleton High. He started his collegiate career at South Carolina but transferred to Fort Hays State. He later attended Pearl River Community College, where he majored in criminal justice.

We add our condolences to Murdock's family and the Titans' organization.