Micah Johnson (gridiron football)

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1988)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Micah Johnson

| image = 2024, 04, Micah Johnson.jpg

| caption = Johnson with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024

| current_team = Saskatchewan Roughriders

| number = 4

| position = Defensive tackle

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|06|22}}

| birth_place = Columbus, Georgia, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 257

| high_school = Fort Campbell (TN)

| college = Kentucky

| undraftedyear = 2010

| pastteams =

New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2010}})*
Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2010}})
Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2011}})*
Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2012}})*
Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2012|2013}})*
Calgary Stampeders ({{CFL Year|2013}}–{{CFL Year|2018}})
Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2019}})
BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2020}})*
Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2021}})
Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|2022}})
Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2023}}–present)

| status = Active

| cflstatus = American

| highlights =

2× Grey Cup champion (2014, 2018)
4× CFL All-Star ({{CFL Year|2016}}, {{CFL Year|2017}}, {{CFL Year|2018}}, {{CFL Year|2024}})
7× CFL West All-Star ({{CFL Year|2016|2021}}, {{CFL Year|2024}})
CFL East All-Star ({{CFL Year|2022}})
First-team All-SEC (2008)
Second-team All-SEC (2009)
SEC Coaches All-Freshman honors (2006)

| statlabel1 = Total tackles

| statvalue1 = 1

| cflstatlabel1 = Total tackles

| cflstatvalue1 = 184

| cflstatlabel2 = Sacks

| cflstatvalue2 = 45.0

| cflstatlabel3 = Interceptions

| cflstatvalue3 = 2

| pfr = JohnMi01

| cfl = micah-johnson/157594/

}}

Micah Johnson (born June 22, 1988) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. He has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Early life

While playing linebacker and running back for Fort Campbell High School, Johnson was selected as the 2005 Kentucky Mr. Football.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_micah00.html|title=Micah Johnson Bio – Kentucky Wildcats Official Athletic Site|work=ukathletics.com}} Having played only two years at Ft. Campbell, his career totals there included 2,543 rushing yards, 46 touchdowns, and 293 tackles. Johnson played his freshman and sophomore years at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he also starred in basketball. A highly regarded recruit, Johnson chose the University of Kentucky over Georgia and Notre Dame. Following his high school career, Johnson was invited to play in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.{{cite web |url=http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=8156 |title=Campbell youth selected for All-American Bowl |access-date=2008-12-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701080952/http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=8156 |archive-date=2007-07-01 }}

Rated the nation's top inside linebacker by ESPN,{{cite web|url=http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=27343&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fplayer%3frecruitId%3d27343|title=Micah Johnson|work=ESPN.com}}{{cite web|url=https://insider.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/news/story?id=2241961&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%253a%252f%252finsider.espn.go.com%252fncaa%252frecruiting%252fnews%252fstory%253fid%253d2241961|title=ESPN|work=ESPN.com|date=30 November 2005 }} he was also selected as a high school All-American by Parade, EA Sports, PrepStar and SuperPrep. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Johnson was listed as the No. 2 strongside defensive end prospect in the nation in 2006.{{cite web|url=https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1154|title=Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking – Rivals.com Strongside defensive ends 2006|work=rivals.com}}

College career

Johnson recorded 29 tackles (20 solo, 9 assist) at linebacker in his freshman season for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was voted to the All-SEC Freshman Team by the coaches of the conference. In the Wildcats' 2006 Music City Bowl victory against Clemson University, Johnson entered the game as a running back and scored a touchdown.

As a sophomore, he recorded 58 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 5 pass breakups.

As a junior, he recorded 57 solo tackles, 30 assisted, 11.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Johnson earned first-team All-SEC honors,{{cite web|url=http://secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=2&url_article_id=11926&change_well_id=2|title=secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=2&url_article_id=11926&change_well_id=2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210235153/http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=2&url_article_id=11926&change_well_id=2|archive-date=2008-12-10}} and he considered early entry into the 2009 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.kentucky.com/978/story/617884.html|title=www.kentucky.com/978/story/617884.html}} However, Johnson opted to stay for his senior year.

Professional career

File:2022, 06, Micah Johnson.jpg

=New York Giants=

Johnson was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL draft. He was waived on June 21, 2010.{{cite news |author=Garafolo, Mike |title=Giants waive five players, including punter Jy Bond |url=http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2010/06/giants_waive_five_players_incl.html |work=The Star-Ledger |date=June 21, 2010 |access-date=2010-06-22}}

=Miami Dolphins=

On August 3, 2010, Johnson was signed by the Miami Dolphins. He was waived on September 15, 2010.

=Kansas City Chiefs=

On December 8, 2010, Johnson was signed to the practice squad by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played in one regular season game in 2010. He was waived on September 3, 2011.{{cite web|date=December 13, 2011|url=http://www.cincyjungle.com/2011/12/13/2633687/cincinnati-bengals-sign-linebacker-micah-johnson-to-the-practice-squad|title=Cincinnati Bengals Sign Linebacker Micah Johnson To The Practice Squad}}

=Cincinnati Bengals=

On December 13, 2011, Johnson was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals to the practice squad.

=Calgary Stampeders=

On May 27, Johnson was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.{{cite web|url=http://www.stampeders.com/roster/show/id/6199|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007193448/http://www.stampeders.com/roster/show/id/6199|title=Micah Johnson – Roster – Calgary Stampeders|archive-date=7 October 2014|work=Calgary Stampeders}} Johnson worked his way up the ranks with Calgary over the years, winning the Grey Cup in 2014 as a backup. Subsequent years saw Johnson working his way into a starting role, while returning to the championship game for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, where Calgary suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses to Ottawa and Toronto. In 2018, Johnson and the Stamps won the 106th Grey Cup, and Johnson's efforts resulted in his recognition as one of the most dominant interior rushers in the game, with 14 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception. He was named to his 3rd consecutive CFL-West All Star team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/11/07/star-power-2018-cfl-divisional-stars-announced/|title=Star Power: 2018 CFL Divisional All-Stars announced|date=November 7, 2018}}

In 81 career games during his 6 seasons in Calgary, Johnson has amassed 158 tackles, 2 tackles on special teams, 41 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 6 forced fumbles.

=Saskatchewan Roughriders (first stint)=

On February 12, 2019, Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for $250,000 CAD, making him one of the highest paid defensive players in the CFL.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2019/02/12/riders-agree-to-terms-with-dl-micah-johnson/|title=Riders sign DL Micah Johnson and make him the highest paid defensive player in the CFL|first=Justin|last=Dunk|date=February 12, 2019}} Johnson missed a few games with injury, and had a slow start to the year while adjusting to the new team and defensive scheme; Johnson did not record his first sack until week 13 during the 2019 edition of the Banjo Bowl. However, it was the beginning of a critical stretch of games for the Riders in which Johnson had three consecutive games with a sack, with four in five games. Johnson's 26 tackles and four sacks on the year helped the Riders finish with the best record in the West Division.

=BC Lions=

Upon entering free agency, Johnson signed a one-year contract with the BC Lions on February 11, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2020/02/11/lions-bolster-defensive-line-addition-micah-johnson/|title=Lions Bolster Defensive Line With Addition of Micah Johnson|date=February 11, 2020|publisher=BC Lions}} However, the 2020 CFL season was cancelled and he never played for the Lions.

=Saskatchewan Roughriders (second stint)=

On the first day of free agency in 2021, Johnson re-signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on February 9, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.riderville.com/2021/02/09/disruptive-defensive-lineman-micah-johnson-returns-green-white/|title=Disruptive Defensive Lineman Micah Johnson Returns To The Green And White|date=February 9, 2021|publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders}}

=Hamilton Tiger-Cats=

On February 9, 2022, Johnson officially signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/hamilton-tiger-cats-ticats-sign-micah-johnson-1.1757142 |title=Ticats announce signing of DT Johnson |publisher=TSN |date=February 9, 2022}}

=Saskatchewan Roughriders (third stint)=

On February 14, 2023, it was announced that Johnson had re-signed with the Roughriders.{{cite web|url=https://www.riderville.com/2023/02/14/micah-johnson-is-back-in-riderville/ |title=Micah Johnson is back in Riderville |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |date=February 14, 2023}}

On February 12, 2024, it was announced that he had signed a one-year contract extension with the Roughriders.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=Micah Johnson, Riders agree to one-year extension |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/02/12/micah-johnson-riders-agree-to-one-year-extension/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}}

On February 7, 2025, the Roughriders announced that Johnson had re-signed with the team.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-07 |title=Riders sign DL Micah Johnson to extension |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/07/riders-sign-dl-micah-johnson-to-extension/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}}