Minnesota Vikings receiver Moore dies aged 25

Warning: This report contains details that some readers may find upsetting.

The Minnesota Vikings have honoured wide receiver Rondale Moore following the 25-year-old’s death at his home in Indiana.

Authorities in New Albany confirmed officers responded to a residence on Saturday evening, where Moore was discovered in a garage. He was taken to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to determine the cause.

In an official statement, the Vikings expressed profound sorrow over Moore’s passing, noting they had reached out to his family to extend condolences and offer full organisational support. The team also said counselling and emotional assistance would be made available to players, coaches and staff during this difficult time.

Moore began his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals after being selected in the second round of the 2021 Draft. Over three seasons in Arizona, he recorded 135 receptions for 1,201 yards.

He later signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, though a knee injury sidelined him for the entire season. In 2025, he joined the Vikings, where he had recently begun a new chapter.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell described Moore as humble, respectful and deeply proud of his Indiana roots, adding that the team is devastated he will not be able to continue pursuing his NFL aspirations.

The National Football League also released a statement expressing sadness over what it called a tragic loss.

The Cardinals said they were heartbroken by the news, sending condolences to Moore’s family, friends and teammates. Former teammate JJ Watt shared an emotional tribute, saying the loss felt impossible to process and that Moore had so much more to give.

Meanwhile, the NFL Players Association reminded players that support services remain available, encouraging members to look after their mental wellbeing and check in on one another during such challenging moments.

Trump curious why Iran has not ‘capitulated’, US envoy Witkoff says

US President Donald Trump is reportedly questioning why Iran has not surrendered under mounting pressure from Washington’s growing military presence in the Middle East, according to his special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, Witkoff said Trump is “curious” about Tehran’s stance after previously warning that the US could launch a limited military strike if negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme fail. The US and its European partners believe Iran may be edging closer to developing a nuclear weapon — an accusation Tehran strongly denies.

Witkoff avoided describing Trump as “frustrated,” but suggested the president is puzzled that Iran has not backed down despite the significant American naval and military build-up in the region. He questioned why, under such pressure, Iran has not come forward with firm assurances that it does not intend to pursue nuclear weapons and outlined what it is prepared to concede. Iran has not publicly responded to the envoy’s comments.

Earlier in the week, US and Iranian officials engaged in indirect discussions in Switzerland aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear activities, with both sides indicating some progress. However, shortly after, Trump stated that the world would know within about 10 days whether an agreement would be reached or whether military action would follow.

Meanwhile, the US has significantly increased its military footprint near Iran. Deployments reportedly include the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest warship, as well as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, destroyers, combat vessels and fighter jets.

Inside Iran, large-scale anti-government protests erupted across several universities over the weekend — the biggest demonstrations since January’s violent crackdown. Verified footage showed students marching at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, where clashes later broke out between protesters and government supporters. Similar gatherings were reported at other universities, with students commemorating thousands said to have been killed in recent unrest.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) claims at least 7,015 people were killed during the crackdown, including 6,508 protesters, 226 children and 214 government-affiliated individuals, with thousands more deaths under investigation. Iranian authorities, however, have reported over 3,100 deaths, stating that most victims were security forces or civilians targeted by what they describe as rioters.