Brian Johnson (born March 5, 1999) is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Virginia Tech and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Johnson has also been a member of the New Orleans Saints and Washington Football Team.
 Johnson with the Washington Football Team in 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
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| Born: | March 5, 1999 Washington, D.C. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Virginia Tech (2016–2020) | ||||||||||||
| Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2021 | |||||||||||||
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College career
editJohnson was a member of the Virginia Tech Hokies for five seasons, redshirting as a true freshman. He finished his collegiate career with 54 field goals on 71 attempts (76.1%) and all 131 of extra points he attempted.[1]
Professional career
editChicago Bears
editJohnson was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2021.[2] He was waived on August 31, 2021, during final roster cuts and re-signed to the team's practice squad the following day.[3][4]
New Orleans Saints
editJohnson was signed by the New Orleans Saints off the Bears' practice squad on October 12, 2021.[5] He made his professional debut on October 25, 2021, against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football and made a field goal with 1:56 left in the fourth quarter to put the Saints ahead in a 13-10 win.[6] He was waived on November 19, 2021.[7]
Chicago Bears (second stint)
editOn November 23, 2021, Johnson signed with the Chicago Bears’ practice squad.[8]
Washington Football Team / Commanders
editJohnson signed with the Washington Football Team on November 30, 2021, after former Virginia Tech teammate, Joey Slye, was placed on injured reserve.[9] In his first game with the team, Johnson made a game-winning 48-yard field goal in a 17-15 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.[10] Johnson played in 3 games before Slye returned and resumed duties as the starting kicker. The team placed an exclusive-rights free agent tender on him on March 16, 2022,[11] which went unsigned before he was released on June 13, 2022.[12]
On August 27, 2022, the Carolina Panthers hosted Johnson for a workout.[13]
References
edit- ^ Mosley, Kyle T. (October 12, 2021). "Saints Sign K Brian Johnson, Per Report". SI.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (May 13, 2021). "Roster Moves: Bears ink undrafted free agents". ChicagoBears.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Finley, Patrick; Lieser, Jason (September 1, 2021). "Roster tracker: Whom the Bears are cutting, keeping and signing". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (September 1, 2021). "Roster Moves: Bears sign 13 players to practice squad". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Simmons, Myles (October 12, 2021). "Saints signing Brian Johnson off Bears practice squad". Profootballtalk.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Booth, Tim (October 25, 2021). "Brian Johnson's game-winner, Kamara's monster night lifts Saints past Seahawks". CBC.ca. Associated Press. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Williams, Charean (November 19, 2021). "Saints sign Brett Maher to active roster, cut Brian Johnson". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
- ^ Mishler-Elmore, Beth (November 23, 2021). "Bears place DB on Injured Reserve, Re-Sign Familiar Face". Heavy.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ Manning, Bryan (November 30, 2021). "Washington places Joey Slye on IR, signs another former Virginia Tech kicker to replace him". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ Dajani, Jordan (December 5, 2021). "Raiders vs. Washington score: Taylor Heinicke leads another game-winning drive, defeats Las Vegas on road". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Selby, Zach (March 16, 2022). "Commanders tender 4 players, release S Landon Collins". Commanders.com. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "Commanders release K Brian Johnson, DB Will Adams". Commanders.com. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ "Panthers reportedly working out former Saints, Commanders kicker". pantherswire.usatoday.com. August 27, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2023.