Roschon Johnson Bio
Roschon Johnson (born January 31, 2001) is an American professional football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was selected by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Johnson had a remarkable high school career at Port Neches-Groves, leading as a quarterback before transitioning to running back in college due to positional needs. He showed his versatility and skill during his college years, which ultimately led him to be drafted into the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Roschon Johnson was born on January 31, 2001, in Port Arthur, Texas. During his early childhood, his family moved to nearby Groves, Texas, where he grew up and developed an early love for football. He attended Port Neches-Groves High School in Port Neches, Texas, and quickly emerged as one of the most dynamic athletes in the region.
Johnson starred as the starting quarterback for the Port Neches-Groves football team, where he put up impressive numbers across multiple seasons. As a junior in 2017, he completed 181 of 279 pass attempts for 2,918 yards and 35 touchdowns, while also rushing 227 times for 1,627 yards and 29 touchdowns. In his senior season, he passed for 2,343 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 1,623 rushing yards with 26 more scores on the ground. He finished as Port Neches-Groves’ all-time leading passer with 7,710 yards and ranked second in program history with 4,900 rushing yards.
Rated as a four-star recruit, Johnson committed to play college football for the Texas Longhorns. His high school production at quarterback, combined with his natural athleticism, made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the state of Texas.
Path to American Football
Johnson began attending the University of Texas at Austin in January 2019, enrolling early to get a head start on his college career. The Texas coaching staff had originally recruited him as an athlete, and when injuries thinned the running back room during his freshman season, the program asked him to switch from quarterback to running back. The transition went smoothly, and Johnson quickly proved he could be a productive ball carrier at the college level.
As a freshman, he finished with 649 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 123 carries, adding 158 receiving yards and one touchdown on 23 receptions. He showed flashes of the versatility that would later define his draft profile, contributing both on the ground and through the air. By his sophomore year, the Longhorns featured a crowded backfield headlined by future first-round pick Bijan Robinson, which limited Johnson’s touches but also gave him a chance to learn behind an elite back.
Johnson continued to develop across his sophomore and junior seasons, splitting duties and producing whenever his number was called. He enrolled in the McCombs School of Business in January 2021 and graduated with a degree in business management in May 2022, balancing academic and athletic demands during his final college years. By the end of his Texas career, he had established himself as a tough, multi-purpose back with reliable hands, helping set the stage for his leap to the NFL.
Roschon Johnson Career
Early Career (2019-2022)
Johnson’s first notable stretch at the University of Texas came during his freshman season, when he stepped into a starting role at running back and immediately made an impact. He eclipsed 600 rushing yards and scored seven total touchdowns, giving the Longhorns a physical between-the-tackles runner while also showcasing his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. That freshman production hinted at the larger role he could play once he was given a full workload.
During his sophomore and junior seasons, Johnson worked as a complementary back behind Bijan Robinson, taking on short-yardage and rotational duties. He rushed 80 times for 418 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore, then added 569 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries in his junior campaign. His reliability and team-first approach earned him respect in the Texas locker room and helped maintain his draft stock heading into his final college season.
NFL Breakthrough (2023-Present)
Johnson was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round, 115th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft, becoming one of the first building blocks of the franchise’s new offensive era. Shortly after the draft, he signed his four-year rookie contract worth $4.6 million. He wasted little time making an impression at the professional level, scoring his first NFL touchdown on a two-yard rush in the fourth quarter of the Bears’ Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
As a rookie, Johnson appeared in 15 games and served as a versatile complement in the backfield. He finished that first season with 81 carries for 352 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, while also catching 34 passes for 209 receiving yards. His ability to contribute as both a runner and a pass catcher showed Bears coaches that he could fill a true committee role in the offense.
Chicago Bears Era (2023-Present)
Johnson entered his second NFL season as part of a retooled Bears backfield, where he continued to provide a physical, between-the-tackles presence. Through the early part of his professional career in Chicago, he has totaled 519 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 50 receptions, and 313 receiving yards, demonstrating the dual-threat capability that originally made him an attractive prospect coming out of Texas.
In 2025, Johnson began the season as an auxiliary running back behind D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. In seven appearances that year, he recorded two rushes for 17 yards before a thumb injury landed him on injured reserve on November 22, 2025. Despite the setback, his role within the Bears’ offensive scheme has remained valued, and he is signed in Chicago through the 2027 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnson plays a physical, downhill style of running back, using his 6-foot, 227-pound frame to break tackles and pick up tough yardage between the tackles. His background as a high school quarterback gives him above-average vision and feel for the passing game, and he has developed into a reliable check-down option for Chicago’s quarterbacks. He is also comfortable in pass protection, which keeps him on the field for all three downs.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Johnson’s NFL career came on the very first drive of his rookie season, when he punched in a two-yard rushing touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. Reaching the end zone in Week 1, the opening weekend of his professional career, marked a memorable start to his time in Chicago. He has since built on that debut by adding more rushing scores while expanding his role as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
Roschon Johnson Career Wins
Roschon Johnson’s professional career is still in its early stages, and his statistical milestones have come primarily through steady production rather than weekly award-winning performances. Through the first chapters of his NFL tenure with the Chicago Bears, he has accumulated 519 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 50 receptions, and 313 receiving yards. He has also appeared in a total of 15 games as a rookie and remained active in the Bears’ rotation in subsequent seasons.
Chicago Bears Highlights
Johnson’s most notable regular-season highlight with the Chicago Bears came in his very first NFL game, when he scored on a two-yard rush in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers. Across his rookie year, he appeared in 15 games, rushed 81 times for 352 yards and two touchdowns, and added 34 receptions for 209 receiving yards. His dual-threat production out of the backfield gave the Bears a dependable complementary option behind the lead back.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the NFL, Johnson put together a decorated high school resume at Port Neches-Groves, finishing as the program’s all-time leading passer with 7,710 yards while ranking second with 4,900 rushing yards. He was also a four-star recruit and one of the top-rated dual-threat players in the state of Texas. At the University of Texas, he contributed as a freshman, sophomore, and junior, leaving Austin with a degree in business management and a reputation for toughness and reliability.
Roschon Johnson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Roschon Johnson was raised in Southeast Texas, where he grew up in the close-knit communities of Port Arthur and Groves. His early move between neighboring cities helped shape his grounded upbringing and introduced him to football at a young age. Public details about his immediate family remain limited, but the regional football culture of Southeast Texas played a major role in his development as a player.
Personal Life
Johnson is known for his disciplined approach to both academics and athletics, a balance highlighted by his graduation from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas with a degree in business management. He signed a four-year rookie contract with the Chicago Bears in 2023 that runs through the 2027 season, anchoring his professional life in Chicago for the foreseeable future. Further personal details, including marital status and family life, are not widely publicized.
2025 Season Performance
Roschon Johnson began the 2025 NFL season as an auxiliary running back for the Chicago Bears, working behind lead back D’Andre Swift and fellow rusher Kyle Monangai. In a reduced early-season role, he appeared in seven games and recorded two rushes for 17 yards while also contributing on special teams and in the passing game when called upon. His veteran presence in the locker room and his willingness to embrace a complementary role have been noted as positives by the Bears’ coaching staff.
On November 22, 2025, Johnson’s season was interrupted when he was placed on injured reserve due to a thumb injury, sidelining him for the stretch run of the year. The injury cut short what had been a steady, if quiet, campaign and opened the door for younger backs in the Bears’ rotation. The Bears will hope his recovery stays on track as they plan their backfield depth chart for the following season.
Looking ahead, Johnson remains under contract in Chicago through 2027, giving the franchise flexibility to build around him as a power runner and short-yardage option. His combination of size, pass-catching ability, and special teams value should keep him in the mix for a meaningful role once he returns to full health. With the Bears continuing to develop their offense around younger skill players, Johnson’s experience and downhill running style remain valuable assets for the team’s long-term plan.