Cade Johnson Bio
Cade Johnson, born on April 10, 1998, in Papillion, Nebraska, is an American professional football wide receiver. He currently plays for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL) after spending time in the National Football League with the Seattle Seahawks. A former undrafted free agent, Johnson built his reputation as a dynamic pass catcher at South Dakota State, where he earned First-team FCS All-American honors in 2019. He stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and has been listed at 184 pounds throughout his professional career.
Johnson is widely recognized for his productive college career in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and for his perseverance in moving between NFL practice squads and the UFL. He continues to compete at the professional level, contributing as a receiver and special teams performer for the Birmingham Stallions.
Early Life and Background
Cade Johnson grew up in Papillion, Nebraska, a community located just outside Omaha in the eastern part of the state. He attended Bellevue West High School, where he developed into a standout multi-sport athlete. As a senior, Johnson was one of the most productive receivers in Nebraska high school football, catching 43 passes for 1,061 yards and 16 touchdowns. His dominant play earned him first-team All-State recognition heading into his college career.
Johnson comes from a family with deep football roots. His father, Clester Johnson, played college football at the University of Nebraska and was a member of the Cornhuskers’ 1994 and 1995 National Championship teams. This family connection gave Cade early exposure to high-level football and helped shape his understanding of the game. The Johnsons have long been associated with the sport, and Cade followed the path his father and brothers had set before him.
Path to American Football
Johnson joined the South Dakota State Jackrabbits as a walk-on, where he redshirted his true freshman season to develop his body and learn the offense. When he finally took the field, he wasted no time making an impact. As a redshirt freshman, he caught 23 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns while also serving as a dynamic return man, bringing back 30 kickoffs for a school-record 839 yards with two touchdowns. That performance earned him a spot on the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) All-Newcomer team.
By his redshirt sophomore year, Johnson had become the focal point of the Jackrabbits’ passing attack. He led the team with 67 receptions for 1,332 yards and a single-season school-record 17 touchdown catches, earning first-team All-MVFC honors. His ascent continued into his redshirt junior season, when he was named a first-team All-American by both The Associated Press and Walter Camp, becoming one of the most decorated wide receivers in South Dakota State history. With the 2020 college football season canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson briefly explored entering the transfer portal before deciding to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Cade Johnson Career
Early Career (2021)
After going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, Johnson signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. He was waived at the end of training camp on August 31, 2021, but was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. His first stint with the Seahawks was a constant push and pull between being released and brought back, as he spent much of the regular season moving between the active roster and the practice squad.
Johnson’s perseverance paid off in the form of practice experience and continued development, even though he did not see regular-season game action in 2021. The Seahawks saw enough potential in the young receiver to keep cycling him back onto the practice squad throughout the year.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2022)
Johnson was again waived by the Seahawks on August 30, 2022, at the end of training camp, and he was signed to the practice squad the next day. He continued to grind through the early portion of the season before finally earning an opportunity to contribute on game day. In Week 18 of the 2022 season, against the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson caught his first two career passes for a total of 21 yards in a 19-16 Seahawks victory. Those first NFL receptions marked a significant personal milestone in a long road that had begun as an undrafted walk-on.
He signed a reserve/future contract with the Seahawks on January 17, 2023, signaling the team’s continued interest in keeping him in the organization beyond the 2022 campaign. The 2023 season, however, brought another round of roster moves, and Johnson was waived on August 29, 2023, before being re-signed to the practice squad. He was not offered a reserve/future contract at season’s end, which allowed him to become a free agent once his practice squad deal expired.
Birmingham Stallions Era (2025-Present)
On December 19, 2024, Johnson signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League, joining one of the most successful spring football organizations in the country. The move marked a new chapter in his professional career and gave him the chance to play a larger role in a more pass-friendly offense. The Stallions, known for their championship pedigree in spring leagues, offered Johnson an opportunity to showcase the skills he had honed through years of NFL practice squad work.
Johnson’s transition to the UFL has given him a chance to be a featured contributor rather than a practice squad piece. With the 2025 season underway, he has continued to develop as a reliable target in the Stallions’ passing game and on special teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnson is known for his quickness, sharp route-running, and reliable hands, traits that have made him productive at every level he has played. At South Dakota State, he was equally effective as a receiver and as a kick returner, demonstrating a versatility that translates well to professional football. His smaller frame does not limit his willingness to work the middle of the field or compete for contested catches, and his football intelligence, sharpened by years of grinding on practice squads, has made him a dependable presence for his coaching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Johnson’s professional career came in Week 18 of the 2022 season, when he recorded his first two NFL receptions against the Los Angeles Rams. At the college level, his most memorable milestones include setting a South Dakota State single-season record with 17 touchdown catches in 2018 and earning First-team FCS All-American honors from The Associated Press and Walter Camp in 2019. Signing with the Birmingham Stallions in December 2024 also marked a major milestone, launching the next phase of his professional journey.
Cade Johnson Career Wins
Across his professional career, Cade Johnson’s win totals are most clearly documented at the college level, where he earned First-team All-MVFC recognition in both 2018 and 2019, as well as First-team FCS All-American honors in 2019. At the professional level, he has been a practice squad contributor with the Seattle Seahawks and a member of the Birmingham Stallions, a team that has consistently been a championship contender in spring football. While exact career win counts are not fully verified for every stage of his professional tenure, his body of work as both a receiver and return specialist speaks to a productive and resilient career arc.
South Dakota State Highlights
At South Dakota State, Johnson was one of the most productive receivers in program history. He set a single-season school record with 17 touchdown catches in 2018 and followed it up with 72 catches for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019, a season that earned him First-team All-American recognition. His two First-team All-MVFC selections, in 2018 and 2019, cemented his status as one of the top wide receivers in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his college accomplishments, Johnson’s biggest professional win came during the regular-season finale of the 2022 NFL season, when he recorded his first career receptions in a Seattle Seahawks victory over the Los Angeles Rams. With the Birmingham Stallions, he has continued to be a contributor, though specific performance totals and championship outcomes for the 2025 season are still developing.
Cade Johnson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Football runs deep in the Johnson family. Cade’s father, Clester Johnson, played college football at the University of Nebraska and was a member of the Cornhuskers’ 1994 and 1995 National Championship teams. His older brother, C.J., played wide receiver at the University of Wyoming, and his younger brother, Keagan, is a wide receiver for Kansas State after previously playing at the University of Iowa. The family’s rich football pedigree has shaped Cade’s path to the sport and continues to influence his career.
Personal Life
Cade Johnson continues to pursue his professional football career and is currently focused on his role with the Birmingham Stallions. He grew up in Papillion, Nebraska, and remains connected to his family roots in the Midwest. He has not publicly disclosed details about a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Cade Johnson’s first full year with the Birmingham Stallions, who are competing in the UFL following the merger of the USFL and XFL. The Stallions have built a reputation as one of the league’s most successful franchises, and Johnson’s speed, route-running, and special teams value have given the team another versatile weapon on offense and in the return game. Early in the season, he has been working to establish himself as a consistent contributor within the Stallions’ passing attack.
Johnson’s experience grinding through NFL practice squads has prepared him for the long season ahead and the demands of a championship-caliber spring league. The 2025 campaign gives him a real opportunity to play a featured role, build game-day chemistry with his quarterback, and contribute to a team with serious postseason aspirations. If he can stay healthy and continue to produce, Johnson has a strong chance to add meaningful accomplishments to his professional resume.
As the season progresses, the focus for Johnson and the Birmingham Stallions will be on building momentum heading into the UFL playoffs, where the team has historically performed at a high level.