Isaiah Johnson (cornerback)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Isaiah Johnson
| image = HoustonRoughnecksvsDCDefendersUFL52525-111 (54547732539).jpg
| caption = Johnson with the DC Defenders in 2025
| current_team = DC Defenders
| number = 7
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|12|20}}
| birth_place = Bryan, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 208
| high_school = James Earl Rudder
(Bryan, Texas)
| college = Houston (2014–2018)
| draftyear = 2019
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 129
| pastteams =
- Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- DC Defenders ({{XFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights = * UFL champion (2025)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 15
| statlabel2 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Pass deflections
| statvalue4 = 5
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 =
}}
Isaiah Johnson (born December 20, 1995) is an American professional football cornerback DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Houston.
Early life
Johnson attended James Earl Rudder High School in Bryan, Texas. He committed to the University of Houston to play college football.
College career
Johnson played at Houston from 2014 to 2018. He spent his first two years as a wide receiver before switching to cornerback prior to his junior year in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/cougars/article/Isaiah-Johnson-making-switch-to-cornerback-for-UH-11056352.php|title=UH's Isaiah Johnson makes switch from receiver to cornerback|first1=Joseph|last1=Duarte|first2=Houston|last2=Chronicle|date=April 7, 2017|website=Houston Chronicle}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/522369/2018/09/13/meet-the-prospect-houston-cb-isaiah-johnson-following-the-richard-sherman-path/|title=Meet the Prospect: Houston CB Isaiah Johnson following the Richard Sherman path|first=Dane|last=Brugler|website=The Athletic}} During his two years as a receiver, he had 21 receptions for 208 yards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/cougars/article/A-year-after-switch-from-receiver-UH-cornerback-13159585.php|title=A year after switch from receiver, UH cornerback Isaiah Johnson finds his swagger - HoustonChronicle.com|date=August 15, 2018|website=www.houstonchronicle.com}} In his two years as a cornerback, he had 115 tackles and four interceptions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/cougars/article/UH-cornerback-Isaiah-Johnson-skip-bowl-turn-pro-13472027.php|title=UH cornerback Isaiah Johnson will skip bowl game, turn pro|first1=Joseph|last1=Duarte|first2=Houston|last2=Chronicle|date=December 17, 2018|website=Times Union}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/How-UH-s-Isaiah-Johnson-made-himself-a-rising-NFL-13665628.php|title=How UH's Isaiah Johnson made himself a rising NFL draft prospect - HoustonChronicle.com|date=March 6, 2019|website=www.houstonchronicle.com}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 1/8
| weight = 208
| dash = 4.40
| ten split = 1.50
| twenty split = 2.56
| shuttle = 4.06
| cone drill = 6.81
| vertical = 36.5
| broad ft = 11
| broad in = 1
| bench = 9
| arm span = 33
| hand span = 8 3/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/isaiah-johnson/32004a4f-4800-0016-2d84-d0c7257ca660 |title=Isaiah Johnson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 23, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1006764&DraftYear=2019 |title=Isaiah Johnson College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 23, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/players/_/letter/j/year/2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820202144/https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/players/_/letter/j/year/2019 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2023-08-20 |title=Isaiah Johnson NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=February 23, 2025}}
}}
=Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders=
Johnson was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.{{cite web|title=Raiders select cornerback Isaiah Johnson with the No. 129 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-select-cornerback-isaiah-johnson-with-the-no-129-overall-pick-of-the-201|website=Raiders.com|date=April 27, 2019}} He was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 2019.{{cite web|title=Raiders re-sign defensive end Josh Mauro and linebacker Kyle Wilber; place Johnson and Peterman on IR|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-re-sign-defensive-end-josh-mauro-and-linebacker-kyle-wilber-place-johnso|website=Raiders.com|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=September 10, 2019|archive-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205061217/https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-re-sign-defensive-end-josh-mauro-and-linebacker-kyle-wilber-place-johnso|url-status=dead}} He was designated for return and began practicing again on October 14.{{cite news |author=Martin, Kyle |title=Isaiah Johnson and Gabe Jackson thrilled to return to practice Monday |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/isaiah-johnson-and-gabe-jackson-thrilled-to-return-to-practice-monday |website=Raiders.com |date=October 14, 2019 |access-date=October 14, 2019}} He was activated on November 4.{{cite web|title=Raiders activate cornerback Isaiah Johnson|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-activate-cornerback-isaiah-johnson|website=Raiders.com|date=November 4, 2019|access-date=November 5, 2019|archive-date=November 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105014322/https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-activate-cornerback-isaiah-johnson|url-status=dead}}
On November 8, 2020, Johnson forced two incomplete passes on the last two plays of the game to seal the team's 31–26 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |title=Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers - November 8th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202011080sdg.htm |access-date=2020-11-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} In Week 10 against the Denver Broncos, Johnson was ejected from the game after punching Broncos' wide receiver Tim Patrick after Patrick punched Johnson's teammate Johnathan Abram.{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2020 |title=Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders - November 15th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202011150rai.htm |access-date=2020-11-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 18,{{cite news |title=Raiders Add 7 Players To COVID-19 List Ahead Of Rematch Vs. Chiefs |url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/11/18/raiders-7-players-covid-19-list-ferrell-joyner-abram-collins-hankins-irving-johnson-key-vickers/ |website=CBSLocal.com |date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=December 25, 2020}} and activated three days later.{{cite news |author=Gutierrez, Paul |title=Las Vegas Raiders activate 7 off reserve/COVID-19 list |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30360175/source-las-vegas-raiders-activate-7-reserve-covid-19-list |website=ESPN.com |date=November 21, 2020 |access-date=December 25, 2020}} He was placed back on the COVID-19 list on December 19, 2020,{{cite news |author=Williams, Charean |title=Isaiah Johnson placed on COVID-19 list |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/12/19/isaiah-johnson-placed-on-covid-19-list/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=December 19, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2021}} and activated on December 23.{{cite news |author=Damien, Levi |title=Raiders LB Nick Kwiatkoski to miss game vs Dolphins after being placed on reserve/COVID-19 list |url=https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2020/12/23/raiders-lb-nick-kwiatkoski-to-miss-game-vs-dolphins-after-being-placed-on-reserve-covid-19-list/ |website=USAToday.com |date=December 23, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2021}}
On August 31, 2021, Johnson was waived by the Raiders.{{cite web|title=Raiders finalize initial 53-man roster for 2021 season|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/las-vegas-raiders-initial-53-man-roster-2021-nfl-season|website=Raiders.com|date=August 31, 2021}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
On October 5, 2021, Johnson was signed to the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys.{{cite web|title=Cowboys Sign 'Disruptive' CB After Trevon Diggs Injury|url=https://heavy.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/isaiah-johnson-sign-practice-squad/|website=Heavy.com|date=October 5, 2021}} He was released on October 19.
=Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint)=
On December 14, 2021, Johnson was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.{{Cite web|last=Kozora|first=Alex|date=2021-12-14|title=Steelers Sign DB Isaiah Johnson To Practice Squad|url=https://steelersdepot.com/2021/12/steelers-sign-db-isaiah-johnson-to-practice-squad/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Steelers Depot|language=en-US}} He was released on December 20.
=Arizona Cardinals=
On December 29, 2021, Johnson was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. He was released on January 4, 2022.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Sign Veteran Bashaud Breeland To Practice Squad|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-sign-bashaud-breeland-dj-humphries-markus-golden-activated|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=January 4, 2022}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)=
On January 19, 2022, Johnson signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers.{{cite web|title=Kuntz signed to a one-year contract|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/kuntz-signed-to-a-one-year-contract|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=January 19, 2022}} He was waived/injured on May 10, 2022, and placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Steelers Waive Tegray Scales, Rex Sunahara, Isaiah Johnson|url=https://steelersnow.com/steelers-waive-tegray-scales-rex-sunahara-isaiah-johnson/|work=Steelers Now|date=May 10, 2022}} He was released with an injury settlement on June 10, 2022.
= DC Defenders =
On April 5, 2023, Johnson signed with the DC Defenders of the XFL.{{Cite web |title=XFL Transactions |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-transactions |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=www.xfl.com |language=en}} He was placed on the team's reserve list on April 25, and activated on May 16. He was released on March 20, 2025,{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Mark |date=2025-03-20 |title=PR: DC Defenders Set Opening Day Final Roster |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/pr-dc-defenders-set-opening-day-final-roster/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |language=en-US}} but was re-signed on April 29.{{Cite web |last=Heilman |first=Michael |date=2025-04-29 |title=D.C. Defenders bring back defensive back Isaiah Johnson |url=https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2025/04/28/d-c-defenders-bring-back-defensive-back-isaiah-johnson/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=BGMSportsTrax |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://uhcougars.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4521 Houston Cougars bio]
- {{twitter|_bigplayzay}}
{{DC Defenders roster navbox}}
{{Raiders2019DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Isaiah}}
Category:Players of American football from Bryan, Texas
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Houston Cougars football players
Category:Oakland Raiders players
Category:Las Vegas Raiders players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players