D’Ernest Johnson Bio
D’Ernest Johnson Jr. is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner who is currently a member of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and listed at 208 pounds, he has built a reputation as a versatile reserve back and a steady contributor on special teams. After going undrafted out of the University of South Florida in 2018, Johnson has traveled a winding road through the Alliance of American Football (AAF) and several NFL organizations, making the most of every opportunity. His professional journey has carried him from Florida to Ohio, then to Jacksonville, Baltimore, Arizona, and finally New England.
Throughout his career, Johnson has been valued for his patience as a runner, his reliability catching passes out of the backfield, and his experience returning kicks. While he has rarely been a featured starter, his dependable performances have helped him remain on NFL rosters year after year.
Early Life and Background
D’Ernest Johnson was born on February 27, 1996, in Immokalee, Florida, a small agricultural community known for producing tough, hard-working athletes. He grew up in the area and attended Immokalee High School, where he played high school football and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting players in the region. During his high school career, Johnson helped lead the Immokalee Indians to the Class 5A regional semifinals, where they fell 49–34 to Plantation-American Heritage.
In that memorable playoff game, Johnson rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown and added a 99-yard kickoff return against an American Heritage squad that featured future NFL players Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie. That performance helped cement his status as a four-star running back recruit and drew attention from college scouts across the country. He ultimately chose to stay in his home state and committed to play college football at the University of South Florida.
Path to Professional Football
Johnson spent four seasons at South Florida from 2014 to 2017, developing into one of the most productive all-purpose players in program history. He rushed 421 times for 1,796 yards and 16 touchdowns during his college career, and he finished as USF’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 4,186. He also set program records for receptions by a running back with 73 and receiving yards by a running back with 909, while also excelling as a kick returner.
Behind established starter Marlon Mack for three of his four seasons, Johnson saw limited action as a true freshman before breaking out as a sophomore with five touchdowns and 653 scrimmage yards. As a junior in 2016, he averaged 28.9 yards per kickoff return and 11.8 yards per punt return, earning Second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors. In his senior year, he took on a larger offensive role and rushed for a career-high 796 yards with nine total touchdowns.
D’Ernest Johnson Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Johnson accepted an invitation to the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp but was not offered a contract. He spent the rest of that year working as a commercial fisherman in Key West, an experience he has often described as humbling and motivating. When the Alliance of American Football launched its inaugural season in 2019, Johnson signed with the Orlando Apollos and quickly made an impact, rushing for 372 yards and adding 22 receptions for 220 yards in eight games.
When the AAF folded in April 2019, Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns on May 16, 2019, following a strong training camp. He made the Browns’ initial 53-man roster and led the team with 86 preseason rushing yards on 20 carries, while also catching seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown and contributing on punt and kickoff returns. He made his regular-season debut in the 2019 opener against the Tennessee Titans, finishing that year with four carries for 21 rushing yards and six receptions for 71 receiving yards.
Cleveland Browns Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Johnson continued to grow into a trusted depth option for the Browns over the next several seasons. In Week 4 of the 2020 season, he turned in one of his first big performances, rushing for 95 yards on 13 carries in a 49–38 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. His most dramatic moment came on October 21, 2021, when he made his first career start against the Denver Broncos after injuries sidelined Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Johnson responded with 146 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, earning both Player of the Game and FedEx Ground Player of the Week honors.
Following that breakout performance, Johnson re-signed with Cleveland on June 4, 2022, on a one-year contract worth $2.43 million, cementing his value as a dependable veteran presence in the Browns’ backfield room.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2023–2024)
On March 23, 2023, Johnson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he served as the primary backup to Travis Etienne and contributed as a kick returner. He re-signed with the Jaguars on March 13, 2024, continuing in the same dual role as a change-of-pace runner and special-teams asset.
New England Patriots Era (2025–Present)
Johnson’s 2025 season involved a series of quick stops as he searched for a stable roster home. After brief practice-squad stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals earlier in the year, he signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad on October 29, 2025. The Patriots promoted him to the active roster on December 13, and he went on to handle four kick returns in Super Bowl LV, a 29–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s signature NFL moment remains his 146-yard, one-touchdown starting debut against the Denver Broncos in 2021, which earned him AFC Player of the Week recognition. He also reached another milestone by appearing in Super Bowl LV with the Patriots, becoming one of the few undrafted players from his draft class to play on football’s biggest stage.
D’Ernest Johnson Career Statistics
Through the 2025 season, D’Ernest Johnson has compiled 1,014 rushing yards on 230 carries with 3 rushing touchdowns, along with 53 receptions for 465 receiving yards and 922 return yards across his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals, and New England Patriots.
D’Ernest Johnson Personal Life
Family Background and Personal Life
Johnson grew up in Immokalee, Florida, in a tight-knit community that has produced several professional athletes, and he often credits that upbringing with shaping his toughness and work ethic. He spent a notable stretch of 2018 working on a fishing boat in Key West after going undrafted, an experience that strengthened his resolve to make it in professional football. Public details about his immediate family, marital status, and children have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Johnson’s 2025 campaign was defined by movement between practice squads and active rosters across multiple organizations. After short stints in Baltimore and Arizona, he found a roster opportunity with the New England Patriots late in the regular season and was elevated to the active roster in December. His most visible contribution came on the league’s biggest stage, where he logged four kick returns in Super Bowl LV against the Seattle Seahawks.
Looking ahead, Johnson remains an experienced reserve running back and returner whose special-teams dependability and positional versatility continue to make him a valuable depth piece for NFL teams.