Michael Johnson (American football)
Encyclopedia
Michael Johnson is an American football
safety who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the New York Giants
in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at the University of Arizona
.
He has also been a member of the Detroit Lions
.
. Was credited with 107 tackles (75 solo) and had 5 interceptions, 5.5 tackles for losses, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. In 2006, started all 10 games in which he played at strong safety, he earned All-Pac 10 2nd-team honors and finished 5th on the team with 47 tackles (35 solo), including 1 stop for a 7-yard loss. He caused and recovered 1 fumble, deflected 4 passes and intercepted another.
, Jay Alford
, Zak DeOssie
, Kevin Boss
, Adam Koets
and Ahmad Bradshaw
as 2007 Giants draft choices who contributed in their rookie season for the Giants Super Bowl XLII
win. In the NFC Championship that season against the Green Bay Packers
, Johnson made a critically important play late in the 4th quarter: Fellow Giant R.W. McQuarters fumbled a punt return, and as Packer Jarrett Bush
wrapped his hands around the ball to recover it, Johnson dove in and punched the ball out of Bush's hands. The fumble was eventually recovered by fellow Giant Domenik Hixon
, and they went on to win the game in overtime.
In 2008, Johnson switched to number 20. Originally sought to be a temporary holder of the free safety position until first rounder Kenny Phillips
was ready, Johnson held on to a starting spot all season, playing games at both free safety and strong safety. He finishing the regular season second on the team with 88 total tackles and two interceptions.
He became an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season.
. He was waived on August 29.
linebacker
Reggie Brown
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
.
He has also been a member of the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
College career
Johnson played in 21 games with 14 starts at Arizona after transferring from Tyler Junior CollegeTyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College is a two-year community college in Tyler, Texas, United States. TJC is one of the largest community colleges in Texas, with an enrollment of more than 12,000 credit students each year with an additional 20,000 continuing education enrollments annually. Its West Campus includes...
. Was credited with 107 tackles (75 solo) and had 5 interceptions, 5.5 tackles for losses, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. In 2006, started all 10 games in which he played at strong safety, he earned All-Pac 10 2nd-team honors and finished 5th on the team with 47 tackles (35 solo), including 1 stop for a 7-yard loss. He caused and recovered 1 fumble, deflected 4 passes and intercepted another.
New York Giants
He was a seventh round (224th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2007, and wore jersey number 43. Johnson joined Aaron Ross, Steve SmithSteve Smith (New York Giants)
Steve Smith is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, Jay Alford
Jay Alford
Jason Jamaal Alford is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State....
, Zak DeOssie
Zak DeOssie
Zackary Robert "Zak" DeOssie is an American football linebacker and Long snapper for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Brown.A two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2008, 2010 as a...
, Kevin Boss
Kevin Boss
Kevin Boss is an American football tight end for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League...
, Adam Koets
Adam Koets
Adam Koets is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State.-Early life:...
and Ahmad Bradshaw
Ahmad Bradshaw
Ahmad Bradshaw is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Giants...
as 2007 Giants draft choices who contributed in their rookie season for the Giants Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
win. In the NFC Championship that season against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, Johnson made a critically important play late in the 4th quarter: Fellow Giant R.W. McQuarters fumbled a punt return, and as Packer Jarrett Bush
Jarrett Bush
Jarrett Bush is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2006, but was claimed by Green Bay immediately following the preseason of his rookie year and has played there...
wrapped his hands around the ball to recover it, Johnson dove in and punched the ball out of Bush's hands. The fumble was eventually recovered by fellow Giant Domenik Hixon
Domenik Hixon
Domenik Hixon is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Akron.-Early years:Hixon was born to an African American...
, and they went on to win the game in overtime.
In 2008, Johnson switched to number 20. Originally sought to be a temporary holder of the free safety position until first rounder Kenny Phillips
Kenny Phillips
-New York Giants:Phillips was expected to compete for the vacant free safety position left by Gibril Wilson, who left for free agency to the Oakland Raiders in the 2008 offseason...
was ready, Johnson held on to a starting spot all season, playing games at both free safety and strong safety. He finishing the regular season second on the team with 88 total tackles and two interceptions.
He became an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season.
Detroit Lions
On August 10, 2011, Johnson signed with the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. He was waived on August 29.
Personal
He is the younger brother of former Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Reggie Brown
Reggie Brown (linebacker)
Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Brown is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played with the Detroit Lions for his short career, which ran throughout the 1996 and 1997 seasons.- NFL career :...
.