He died in a car crash near Los Angeles after being indefinitely banned from the NFL for repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy.

Russell attended the University of Southern California and, after a dominant 1996 season that featured 19 tackles for loss,[3] was taken second overall in the 1997 NFL draft by Al Davis and the Raiders.

After making the Pro Bowl in 1998 and 1999, averaging ten sacks per year, he was poised to have a dominant NFL career.

[3] Shortly after that, he tested positive for a banned substance and was given a one-year suspension, which effectively wiped out his 2002 season.

Russell missed 1½ years while serving two league suspensions before he played in eight games in 2003 for the Washington Redskins.