Raymond Johnson III Bio
Raymond Johnson III (born October 21, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football for the Georgia Southern Eagles from 2017 through 2020, earning multiple All-Sun Belt honors. Johnson entered the National Football League in 2021 as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants and has since spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 264 pounds, he has built his career on a journeyman path through practice squads, reserve contracts, and short stints on active rosters.
Early Life and Background
Raymond Johnson III was born on October 21, 1998, in Columbia, South Carolina, in the United States. He grew up in South Carolina and attended Sumter High School in Sumter, where he developed into a college-level defensive end prospect. His size and athleticism allowed him to project as a pass rusher at the next level, and he used his high school years to sharpen the technique that would later define his play on the edge.
Coming out of high school, Johnson drew attention from college programs and committed to Georgia Southern University. He was part of a defensive pipeline that produced professional-level talent, and his work in the weight room helped him add the mass needed to play on the defensive line in a power conference schedule. His development through high school set the foundation for a productive four-year college career.
Path to American Football
Johnson enrolled at Georgia Southern in 2017 and quickly adjusted to the speed of the college game. As an underclassman, he earned Second-team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2018, signaling early progress in his pass-rushing craft. He followed that with First-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2019, establishing himself as one of the top defensive linemen in the conference.
As a senior in 2020, Johnson was again named First-team All-Sun Belt after recording 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He finished his collegiate career with 150 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, six fumble recoveries, five passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Those numbers, combined with his conference awards, made him a priority free-agent target despite going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Raymond Johnson III Career
Early Career (2021)
Johnson signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2021, beginning his professional career. He made the team out of training camp, an impressive achievement for a rookie free agent competing against veterans. During the 2021 season, he appeared in regular-season action and recorded his first career sack in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bringing down quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
His time with the Giants ended on May 18, 2022, when he was waived. That release began a stretch in which Johnson bounced between practice squads and short-term contracts across the league. He continued to refine his approach as a rotational edge rusher, learning new schemes and adjusting to different defensive line coaches with each stop.
Cincinnati Bengals (2022–2023)
On July 25, 2022, Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as he looked for a fresh opportunity. He was waived on August 30, 2022, as part of roster cuts but was signed to the practice squad the following day to retain his services. On January 31, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract with Cincinnati, keeping him in the organization for the offseason program.
Johnson remained with the Bengals through the 2023 preseason before being waived on August 29, 2023, as part of the team’s 53-man roster cutdown. His time in Cincinnati showed that he could contribute on special teams and as a depth piece on the defensive line, even if a long-term role did not materialize.
Detroit Lions (2023–2024)
One day after his release from the Bengals, Johnson signed to the Detroit Lions’ practice squad on August 31, 2023. He was released on December 5 of that year, ending his first stretch in Detroit. The Lions re-signed him to the practice squad on January 4, 2024, valuing his experience and positional flexibility.
Johnson’s second stint with Detroit ended on January 23, 2024, following the signings of running back Jake Funk and offensive lineman Matt Farniok. Even with the short stays, his time in Detroit allowed him to learn from one of the league’s emerging defensive staffs and continue building his professional resume.
San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars (2024)
On February 15, 2024, Johnson signed with the San Francisco 49ers, joining a defensive line known for its depth and complexity. The 49ers waived him on June 4, 2024, ending a brief offseason stint. Less than two months later, on July 30, 2024, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in search of another opportunity.
Jacksonville waived Johnson on August 25, 2024, during preseason cutdowns. The quick turnaround between signings highlighted the competitive nature of the NFL’s edge market and Johnson’s persistence in continuing his professional career.
Cincinnati Bengals (2024–2025)
On October 16, 2024, Johnson returned to the Cincinnati Bengals on a practice squad deal. He signed a reserve/future contract with the team on January 7, 2025, securing a spot on the offseason roster. The Bengals waived him on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts, opening the door for his next chapter.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s most notable career milestone is his first career sack, recorded against quarterback Blaine Gabbert of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11 of the 2021 season. His back-to-back First-team All-Sun Belt selections in 2019 and 2020 stand as his top college achievements, while his 16.5 career sacks at Georgia Southern remain a defining statistical marker of his development.
Raymond Johnson III Career Wins
As a defensive end whose role centers on pressuring quarterbacks, disrupting runs, and contributing on special teams, Johnson’s professional career has been defined more by consistent availability and versatility than by headline win totals. His statistical footprint includes a small but verified body of tackles and sacks across his NFL stops.
NFL Highlights
Through his time on NFL active rosters and practice squads, Johnson has accumulated 4 total tackles and 1.0 sack, according to his verified career statistics. His lone sack came during his 2021 rookie season with the New York Giants against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has notched stops with the New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, building a wide-ranging professional profile.
Raymond Johnson III Family
Personal Life
Johnson is a United States national born and raised in South Carolina. He has not publicly shared extensive details about his family, parents, marital status, or children in verified sources. His personal life outside of football remains largely private, and he focuses much of his public presence on his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Johnson entered 2025 with the Cincinnati Bengals after signing a reserve/future contract in January of that year. He participated in the team’s offseason program and competed for a depth role along the defensive line and on special teams. The Bengals waived him on August 26, 2025, as part of their final roster cuts, ending his second stint with the organization.
Following his release, Johnson became a free agent looking for the next opportunity in professional football. His 2025 experience reinforced the journeyman nature of his career, with continued focus on staying ready to contribute wherever a roster opening appears. With several NFL teams and a stop in the UFL in his recent history, his outlook remains tied to the timing of the next available opportunity.