Collin Johnson Bio
Collin Johnson (born September 23, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns before being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL Draft. The son of College Football Hall of Fame cornerback Johnnie Johnson, Collin Johnson built his career on size, length, and reliable hands at the wide receiver position. He has appeared for the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Las Vegas Raiders during his time in the league.
Early Life and Background
Collin Johnson was born on September 23, 1997, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in a family with deep football roots. His father, Johnnie Johnson, played cornerback at Texas and then spent a decade in the NFL, earning induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. His older brother, Kirk Johnson, also played football at Texas from 2015 to 2019 as a running back, and his sister, Camille Johnson, was a member of the Texas track and field team, competing in the javelin from 2018 to 2019.
Johnson attended Valley Christian High School in San Jose, California, where he developed into a top college recruit. He was limited by injuries during both his sophomore and senior seasons, yet still managed to surpass 1,100 receiving yards as a senior. By the winter of his sophomore year, he had attracted scholarship offers from programs including USC, Arizona State, Utah, Rutgers, Cal, and TCU. On April 17, 2014, Johnson committed to Texas alongside his brother Kirk.
Path to American Football
Johnson’s route to professional football ran directly through the Texas Longhorns program. He committed early and arrived on campus with the physical tools that would later define his NFL profile, including his 6-foot-6 frame. He saw the field immediately as a freshman, playing in every game and earning one start, which gave him a foundation of in-game experience heading into his sophomore year.
As a sophomore, Johnson started nine games and finished the season with 54 receptions, signaling his emergence as a dependable target. His size and catch radius made him a natural fit for outside receiver duties and helped him climb the depth chart against talented Big 12 secondaries. By the time he reached his junior and senior seasons, he had become one of the Longhorns’ primary playmakers in the passing game.
Collin Johnson Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Johnson spent four seasons with the Texas Longhorns from 2016 through 2019, steadily expanding his role. Early in his junior year, he posted a career-high 191 receiving yards against USC, including 47 yards on a go-ahead touchdown that showed his ability to break games open. After a quieter showing against Oklahoma, he was briefly replaced at the top of the depth chart by Dorian Leonard, a setback he later described as a valuable learning opportunity.
Heading into his senior year, head coach Tom Herman praised Johnson’s improvement during the offseason, and Johnson landed on the Walter Camp Award, Wuerffel Award, and Biletnikoff Award preseason watchlists. In week four against TCU, his acrobatics and 124 receiving yards earned him National Player of the Week recognition. A minor knee injury kept him out of the November 10 game against Texas Tech, and he later set a Big 12 Championship Game receiving record with 177 yards.
Jacksonville Jaguars Breakthrough (2020)
Johnson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round with the 165th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The pick the Jaguars used on him came as part of a trade that sent Dante Fowler to the Los Angeles Rams. Standing 6-foot-6, he entered the league as one of the tallest wide receivers in the NFL, a size advantage he has used throughout his career to win contested catches.
In Week 5 against the Houston Texans, Johnson recorded three catches for 30 yards and his first career touchdown reception during a 30-14 loss. He built on that performance in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns, finishing with four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, including a 46-yard scoring connection from quarterback Mike Glennon. On January 2, 2021, Johnson was placed on injured reserve, and the Jaguars waived him on August 31, 2021.
New York Giants Era (2021–2023)
Johnson was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants on September 1, 2021, and quickly joined the team’s receiver rotation. His combination of size and special-teams value made him a useful depth piece on the active roster. During the 2022 preseason, however, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon and was placed on injured reserve on August 24, 2022, a significant setback that limited his on-field production that year.
Johnson was released by the Giants on August 27, 2023, as part of the team’s final roster cuts ahead of the regular season. Despite the injury and the release, he remained committed to continuing his NFL career and worked to get back on the field. The Giants’ tenure showed flashes of his potential while also highlighting the injury challenges he had to navigate.
Chicago Bears Era (2023–2024)
On October 10, 2023, Johnson was signed to the practice squad of the Chicago Bears, giving him a chance to return to football. The Bears promoted him to the active roster on January 3, 2024, allowing him to appear in late-season games. He went on to play in nine games for Chicago, recording one reception for six yards and contributing five tackles on special teams.
Johnson was waived by the Bears on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad, illustrating his value as a versatile depth option. He was promoted back to the active roster on November 20, continuing his pattern of steady contributions on special teams and as an extra receiving body. The Bears tenure reinforced his reputation as a high-character teammate willing to handle multiple roles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnson’s game is built on his rare combination of height, length, and reach, which allows him to high-point the football and win 50-50 throws. Listed at 6-foot-6, he presents a massive catch radius for quarterbacks, particularly in the red zone and on third downs. Coaches have praised his blocking ability downfield, and he has shown the toughness to contribute on special teams coverage units as well.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Johnson’s signature early performances came in the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game, where he set the title game record for receiving yards with 177. As a senior at Texas, his 124-yard effort against TCU earned him National Player of the Week honors, and he later appeared on preseason watchlists for the Walter Camp, Wuerffel, and Biletnikoff Awards. In the NFL, he scored his first career touchdown against the Houston Texans in 2020.
Collin Johnson Career Wins
Collin Johnson built his resume around reliable production at the college level and steady role-player contributions in the NFL. While he is not best known for gaudy win totals, his size and consistency made him a valued member of every roster he joined.
College Highlights
At Texas, Johnson was a multi-year contributor for the Longhorns, finishing his sophomore season with 54 catches and later posting 191 receiving yards against USC during his junior year. He set the Big 12 Championship Game receiving record with 177 yards in 2018 and earned National Player of the Week recognition after a 124-yard game against TCU. Those performances cemented his status as one of the top receivers in program history.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Johnson appeared in games for the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears, and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025. His two career receiving touchdowns both came during the 2020 season with Jacksonville, including a 46-yard score against the Cleveland Browns. He has also contributed on special teams, recording tackles while serving in coverage roles.
Collin Johnson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Football runs deep in the Johnson family. Collin’s father, Johnnie Johnson, played cornerback at Texas and then in the NFL for ten seasons, earning induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. His older brother, Kirk Johnson, played running back at Texas from 2015 to 2019, and his sister, Camille Johnson, was a javelin thrower on the Texas track and field team from 2018 to 2019. The family’s connection to the Longhorns program shaped Collin’s early development as a player.
Personal Life
On June 26, 2020, Collin Johnson proposed to his girlfriend since high school, Sara Machado, and the couple is engaged. Johnson stands 6-foot-6 and has used his size and athleticism to forge a professional career in the NFL. He continues to be recognized as one of the tallest wide receivers to play in the league.
2025 Season Performance
On May 1, 2025, Johnson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, joining a receiver group looking to add size and experience. The move gave him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot and contribute on special teams. However, on August 25, 2025, he was released by the Raiders as the team trimmed its roster heading into the regular season.
Despite the release, Johnson remained active in football circles and, on May 21, 2026, announced his retirement from the NFL to attend the MIT Sloan School of Management. The decision marked the close of a professional career that spanned the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Las Vegas Raiders.