Nico Johnson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Nico Johnson
| image = Nico johnson alabama.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Johnson with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2012
| number = 57, 52, 48
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|6|19|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Andalusia, Alabama, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 248
| high_school = Andalusia (AL)
| college = Alabama (2009–2012)
| draftyear = 2013
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 99
| pastteams =
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2014}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2015}})
| highlights =
- BCS national champion (2010, 2012, 2013)
- All-SEC Freshman Team (2009)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 22
| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue2 = 1
| pfr = JohnNi00
}}
Nico Johnson (born June 19, 1990) is an American former professional football linebacker. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football at Alabama, where he was a member of National Championship teams in 2009, 2011, and 2012.
Early life
Johnson was born in Andalusia, Alabama. He attended Andalusia High School, where he played basketball under coach Richard Robertson, as well as football. He recorded 78 tackles, 32 assists, one fumble recovery, one blocked punt and 11 interceptions during his senior season. As a junior, he made 80 tackles and blocked one field goal attempt.
Johnson received ASWA first-team All-State honors three consecutive times and was named to the Orlando Sentinel′s All-Southern Team and the Press Register′s Super Southeast 120 (No. 12). He also earned All-American honors by Parade, was a finalist for the High School Butkus Award, and was selected U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he led the West squad with four solo tackles, including two tackles for loss.
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Johnson was ranked as the No. 2 outside linebacker prospect, behind only Jelani Jenkins.{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2009 |title=Rivals.com, outside linebackers, 2009 |url=https://n.rivals.com/position_rankings/football/2009/olb |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=Rivals.com}} He has made numerous visits to Alabama and said one of the reasons he chose the Crimson Tide over finalists Oregon, Florida, Louisiana State, and Southern California was to be near his mother, who suffered from diabetes.{{Citation |last=Estes |first=Gentry|date=September 3, 2008 |title=Alabama adds prep star Nico Johnson |newspaper=Mobile Press-Register |url=http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2008/09/alabama_adds_prep_star_nico_jo.html }} Johnson is now{{when|date=February 2014}} a contributor to the class of 2009 scholarship at Andalusia High School.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}
College career
Johnson enrolled in the University of Alabama, where he played for coach Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 2009 to 2012. As a true freshman in 2009, Johnson began the season as a backup, but soon had to step in for the injured Dont'a Hightower.{{Citation |last=Melick |first=Ray |date=August 5, 2009 |title=5 battles to watch as the Crimson Tide starts summer football practice |newspaper=Birmingham News |url=http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-sports/2009/08/5_battles_to_watch_as_the_crim.html }} He played in 12 games and made two starts at weak-side inside linebacker next to Rolando McClain.http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/teamcume.html He earned freshman All-SEC selection by the league coaches and Sporting News after the 2009 season. Nico Johnson was part of three BCS National Championship teams (2009, 2011, 2012) while playing for the Crimson Tide.
=College statistics=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2|Year !! rowspan=2|GP–GS !! colspan=4|Tackles !! Sacks !! colspan=4|Pass Defense !! colspan=2|Fumbles !! Blocked | ||||||||||||
| Solo | Ast | Total | Loss–Yards | No–Yards | Int–Yards | BU | PD | QBH | Rcv–Yards | FF | Kick | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 12–3
| 17 | 11 | 28 | 4.5–18 | 1.0–15 | 0–0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0–0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 13–6
| 22 | 11 | 33 | 3.5–7 | 0.0–0 | 1–0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 13–6
| 25 | 22 | 47 | 6.5–18 | 1.0–5 | 1–2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1–0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 13–5
| 23 | 31 | 54 | 2.0–6 | 0.0–0 | 0.0–0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0–0 | 2 | 0 |
Professional career
=Kansas City Chiefs=
In the 2013 NFL draft, Johnson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round with the 99th overall draft pick.{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/draft.htm |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Johnson signed a 4-year, $2 million deal with the Chiefs. On August 30, 2014, he was released during final preseason roster cut downs.{{cite web|title=Chiefs roster cuts 2014: Tyler Bray to IR, Ryan Succop released|url=http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2014/8/30/6084151/chiefs-roster-cuts-2014-tyler-bray-injury-ryan-succop|author=Thorman, Joel|website=ArrowheadPride.com|date=August 30, 2014|access-date=January 31, 2017}} The next day, he was signed to the Chiefs practice squad.{{cite web | last=Thorman | first=Joel | title=Chiefs add 8 players to practice squad | website=Arrowhead Pride|publisher=SB Nation | date=2014-08-31 | url=https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2014/8/31/6091349/kansas-city-chiefs-2014-practice-squad-nico-johnson | access-date=2025-03-30}}
=Cincinnati Bengals=
Johnson was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals on October 17, 2014, off the Chiefs' practice squad.{{cite web | title=Bengals pilfer Nico Johnson from Chiefs' practice squad | website=NBC Sports | date=2014-10-15 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bengals-pilfer-nico-johnson-from-chiefs-practice-squad | access-date=2024-10-30}} On August 31, 2015, he was released by the Bengals.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/13549718/denarius-moore-cuts-cincinnati-bengals |title=Receiver Denarius Moore among players released by Bengals |last=Harvey |first=Coley |date=August 31, 2015 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=September 21, 2015}}
=Washington Redskins=
The Washington Redskins signed Johnson to their practice squad on September 25, 2015.{{cite web|work=Redskins.com|url=http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/925-Redskins-Make-Roster-Moves/8a392916-1fdf-43d7-9bf3-e498e2d9beaf|title=9/25: Redskins Make Roster Moves|date=September 25, 2015|access-date=September 25, 2015|archive-date=September 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927041914/http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/925-Redskins-Make-Roster-Moves/8a392916-1fdf-43d7-9bf3-e498e2d9beaf|url-status=dead}} On October 20, 2015, he was released by the Redskins.{{cite web |url=http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/1020-Redskins-Make-Roster-Moves/a3c9ac06-9f94-4bc0-9343-9c71590b6f41 |title=10/20: Redskins Make Roster Moves |date=October 20, 2015 |website=Redskins.com |access-date=December 10, 2015 |archive-date=December 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211021844/http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/1020-Redskins-Make-Roster-Moves/a3c9ac06-9f94-4bc0-9343-9c71590b6f41 |url-status=dead }}
=New York Giants=
On November 10, 2015, the New York Giants signed Johnson to their practice squad.{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-add-DT-Montori-Hughes-to-active-roster-Johnathan-Hankins-to-IR/88290d1d-ed63-4a2d-a77b-0026e2b04fd0 |title=Giants add DT Montori Hughes to active roster; Johnathan Hankins to IR |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=November 10, 2015 |website=Giants.com |access-date=December 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209124114/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-add-DT-Montori-Hughes-to-active-roster-Johnathan-Hankins-to-IR/88290d1d-ed63-4a2d-a77b-0026e2b04fd0 |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |url-status=dead }} On December 31, 2015, Johnson was promoted to the 53-man roster.{{Cite web |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=December 31, 2015 |title=Nico Johnson eligible to play on Sunday after being activated by New York Giants |url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/12/nico_johnson_eligible_to_play.html |access-date=January 1, 2016 |website=AL.com}}
On April 12, 2016, the New York Giants waived Johnson with a failed physical designation.{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2016/04/giants_cut_linebacker_nico_johnson.html#incart_river_index |title=Giants cut linebacker Nico Johnson after failed physical |last=Kratch |first=James |date=April 12, 2016 |website=NJ.com |access-date=June 16, 2016}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_nico00.html Alabama Crimson Tide bio]
{{2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{2012 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{Kansas City Chiefs 2013 NFL Draft selections}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Nico}}
Category:People from Andalusia, Alabama
Category:Players of American football from Alabama
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players