Jakob Johnson Bio
Jakob Elijah Johnson is a German-American professional football fullback who currently plays for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 255 lb (116 kg), he is known for his work as a blocker and special teams contributor, and he is among the most prominent German-born players in modern NFL history. He came to the league through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, a pipeline designed to give elite athletes from outside the United States an opportunity to earn a roster spot.
Born in Stuttgart and raised between Germany and the United States, Johnson built his football foundation with the Stuttgart Scorpions before moving to Florida for his final year of high school. He later starred at the University of Tennessee and became the first International Pathway player to appear in an NFL game. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a dependable, hard-working fullback who excels in the trenches and on special teams coverage units.
Early Life and Background
Jakob Elijah Johnson was born on 15 December 1994 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He was born Jakob Weinmann to an African-American father and a German mother and later took on his father’s surname, Johnson. Growing up in Stuttgart, he was exposed to American football at a young age, which is unusual for a city better known internationally for its automotive industry.
He attended the technical Gymnasium Max-Eyth-Schule in Stuttgart, graduating in 2013 with the Abitur, the German qualification that allows students to attend university. While still a teenager, Johnson played for the Stuttgart Scorpions’ U19 team, sharpening his skills in the German Football League’s youth system. In his senior year of high school, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended Jean Ribault High School.
At Jean Ribault, Johnson emerged as a four-star recruit, an impressive distinction that drew attention from several college programs. He joined the University of Tennessee as a linebacker, spending his college years in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC). Academically, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for three consecutive seasons and graduated with a degree in kinesiology. He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Path to American Football
Johnson’s path into American football was shaped by the German Football League, the country’s top amateur circuit, and the Stuttgart Scorpions organization. Playing on the Scorpions’ U19 squad gave him a competitive foundation that allowed him to transition into American-style high school football in Jacksonville. The move to Jean Ribault High School broadened his exposure to scouts and coaches, and his four-star rating confirmed his upside as a defensive player.
His recruitment by the Tennessee Volunteers marked a major step in his development. The University of Tennessee gave Johnson a stage in the SEC, where he trained under some of the most experienced coaches in the sport. After completing his degree and his time as a linebacker, Johnson transitioned into a fullback, the position that would ultimately define his professional career.
Graduating from Tennessee in 2018, Johnson returned to his hometown club, the Stuttgart Scorpions, for one final season. In 12 games, he posted 43 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing 10 times for 46 yards. The Scorpions finished 4-12 that year, but Johnson’s production showcased his versatility as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield.
Jakob Johnson Career
Early Career (2018)
Johnson’s 2018 season with the Stuttgart Scorpions served as a bridge between his college years and the next phase of his career. Returning to Germany after spending multiple years in the United States, he was the centerpiece of the Scorpions’ offense and contributed across multiple positions, including tight end, fullback, and running back. His 43 receptions and four touchdowns highlighted his pass-catching skills, which would later translate to the NFL.
The season also offered Johnson one last chance to refine his craft in a familiar environment before chasing an opportunity in the United States. By the end of the year, he had put together a résumé strong enough to attract the attention of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, which scouts top talent from global football leagues.
New England Patriots Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Jakob Johnson entered the NFL through the International Player Pathway Program and was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on 8 April 2019. After being released during final roster cuts in late August, he cleared waivers and was automatically assigned to the Patriots’ practice squad. Because New England did not register him as an international player, he counted against the 10-man practice squad limit but remained eligible for promotion to the active roster during the season.
On 21 September 2019, Johnson was promoted from the practice squad following an injury to veteran fullback James Develin, becoming the first International Pathway player to be activated and to play in an NFL game. He appeared in four games that year, recording one reception for five yards, but his season ended in October when he was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Despite the short campaign, his debut marked a historic moment for international players in the league.
In 2020, Johnson made the Patriots’ 53-man roster out of training camp, becoming the second International Pathway player to do so after Efe Obada. That year, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard reception from quarterback Cam Newton against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, becoming the first International Pathway player to score a touchdown. He appeared in all 16 games, started 11, and proved he could hold down a starting fullback role in the NFL.
Johnson re-signed with New England on a one-year contract in March 2021. He played in all 17 regular-season games that year, started six, and appeared in the team’s playoff game against Buffalo. Across his three seasons in New England, he established himself as a trusted blocker and special teams contributor, laying the foundation for the rest of his career.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2022–2023)
On 17 March 2022, Johnson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, beginning a new chapter in his career. In his first season with the team, he appeared in all 17 games and started nine, contributing on both offense and special teams. His physicality at the point of attack made him a natural fit for the Raiders’ run-heavy approach.
Johnson signed a one-year contract extension on 15 March 2023, but his second season in Las Vegas proved more turbulent. He was released on 17 November, re-signed to the practice squad four days later, and promoted back to the active roster on 29 December. He appeared in 13 games and started five, splitting time between offense and special teams. Despite the in-season movement, he remained a reliable depth piece for the Raiders.
New York Giants and Houston Texans Era (2024–Present)
On 16 August 2024, Johnson signed with the New York Giants, but he was released during roster cuts less than two weeks later and re-signed to the practice squad. He was waived again on 6 September, re-signed to the active roster a few days later, released on 24 September, and brought back to the practice squad before being released once more on 19 November. The busy stretch highlighted the constant churn that veteran fullbacks face on NFL rosters.
Johnson signed with the Houston Texans on 18 March 2025, agreeing to a one-year contract with a base salary of $1.04 million and the potential to earn up to $1.17 million in bonuses. He was released on 26 August as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad, but was elevated for the Texans’ Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams. He was elevated again in Week 2 and recorded a blocked punt on special teams before being signed to the active roster on 20 September. A hamstring injury suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars landed him on injured reserve in late September, and he was activated ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. He was waived on 8 December and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.
Driving Style and Strengths
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Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s most defining career milestones are tied to the International Player Pathway Program. He became the first International Pathway player to be activated and to play in an NFL game in 2019, and he became the first International Pathway player to score a touchdown in 2020. He is also recognized as the first offensive player from Germany to score an NFL touchdown, a historic achievement in a league that has historically drawn very few German-born players.
Jakob Johnson Career Wins
Jakob Johnson’s professional career has been defined more by longevity, versatility, and historic firsts than by headline win totals. As a fullback and special teams contributor, his impact has often shown up in blocking grades, snaps on coverage units, and the small details that do not always appear in box scores. Across his stops with the New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Houston Texans, he has remained a trusted teammate and a steady presence in the locker room.
New England Patriots Highlights
During his three seasons in New England, Johnson helped the Patriots reach the playoffs in 2021 and appeared in all 17 regular-season games that year, plus the team’s postseason matchup against Buffalo. His first NFL touchdown in 2020, a one-yard catch from Cam Newton, remains a defining moment in International Pathway history. He started 11 games in 2020 and six in 2021, demonstrating that he could be a feature fullback when called upon.
Other Wins and Performances
With the Las Vegas Raiders, Johnson started nine games in 2022 and five in 2023, and he later added a memorable blocked punt while with the Houston Texans in 2025. In 2022, he also publicly announced his investment in the Stuttgart Surge of the European League of Football, becoming a co-owner of the club and signaling his long-term commitment to growing the game in Germany.
Jakob Johnson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Not applicable.
Family Background and Personal Life
Johnson was born to an African-American father and a German mother in Stuttgart, and he later adopted his father’s surname. His multicultural background and his early life in Germany shaped the path that eventually led him to American football. He is known to be a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, reflecting his college years at the University of Tennessee.
2025 Season Performance
Jakob Johnson’s 2025 season has been a roller-coaster ride defined by special teams impact and constant roster movement. After signing with the Houston Texans in March, he entered training camp competing for a fullback role but was released during final cuts in late August. The Texans quickly added him back to the practice squad, and he was elevated for the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams before being elevated again in Week 2.
His biggest play of the 2025 season came on special teams, where he recorded a blocked punt that helped swing field position for Houston. The performance was strong enough to earn him a spot on the active roster on 20 September. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3 sent him to injured reserve, forcing him to miss several weeks during the middle of the season.
Johnson was activated ahead of Houston’s Week 11 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, returning to a Texans team that has continued to lean on physical blockers and core special teams players. He was waived on 8 December and re-signed to the practice squad two days later, keeping him in the mix for the final stretch of the regular season. Heading into the closing weeks, his role remains centered on special teams and short-yardage blocking.
