Zack Johnson Bio
Zackary J. Johnson, born on January 19, 1997, in Blaine, Minnesota, is an American professional football offensive guard. He played college football for the North Dakota State Bison and is currently a member of the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 ft 6 in and listed at 315 lb, Johnson has spent his professional career moving between practice squads and active rosters across multiple National Football League (NFL) teams while also finding stability in the UFL.
After going unselected in the 2020 NFL draft, Johnson signed as an undrafted free agent and began a long journey through practice squads, futures contracts, and short stints on active rosters. Across his career he has been a member of the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions, in addition to his time with the Birmingham Stallions.
Early Life and Background
Zackary J. Johnson was born in Blaine, Minnesota, on January 19, 1997, and grew up in the Twin Cities metro area. He has a brother named Ben, who played college football for the Bemidji State Beavers, giving Johnson an early connection to the sport through family. The Minnesota native attended Spring Lake Park High School in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete.
At Spring Lake Park, Johnson was a three-year varsity letter winner in football, while also playing hockey and baseball. On the gridiron he lined up at offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and placekicker, showing a willingness to contribute in several roles. As a senior, his play earned him Associated Press third-team all-state honors and Star Tribune second-team all-metro recognition.
Following high school, Johnson committed to play college football at North Dakota State University, home of the Bison, a program with a strong recent tradition of success at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.
Path to American Football
Johnson arrived at North Dakota State in 2015 and redshirted his true freshman year, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the college game. Even without seeing the field, he was part of a Bison squad that won an FCS national championship that season, giving him an early window into the program’s winning culture.
In 2016 Johnson saw limited offensive action, appearing mostly in the final games of the year. By his sophomore season in 2017 he had earned a full-time starting role at right tackle, a position he would hold for the remainder of his college career. That same season he started all 15 games, helped NDSU set a school record in rushing yards, and earned honorable mention all-conference honors on the way to another national title.
Zack Johnson Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Johnson’s development at North Dakota State mirrored the program’s dominance at the FCS level. After redshirting in 2015, he became a starter in 2017 and did not look back, starting every game at right tackle in 2017 and 2018. In 2018 he allowed only two sacks and was recognized as an FCS All-American and a first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) selection.
As a senior in 2019, Johnson moved from right tackle to right guard, starting all 16 games and allowing just one sack. He repeated as a first-team All-American and first-team All-MVFC pick, and was later invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Across his four college seasons he was part of four national championship teams (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019) and earned two FCS All-American honors.
Green Bay Packers Era (2020–2021)
After going unselected in the 2020 NFL draft, Johnson signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. He was released at final roster cuts but was quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for a game against the Carolina Panthers, though he did not appear in that matchup. On January 27, 2021, Johnson signed a reserve/futures contract with Green Bay, only to be released on August 17, 2021.
Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos Era (2021–2022)
On September 30, 2021, Johnson joined the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent roughly a month before being released on October 29. Shortly after, on November 24, 2021, he was signed to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. He signed a futures contract with Denver on January 10, 2022, was released on May 13, re-signed on May 17, and ultimately released again at the 2022 final roster cuts on August 30.
Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans Era (2022–2023)
The Baltimore Ravens signed Johnson to their practice squad on September 27, 2022, and he remained there until being released on December 20. The next day, December 21, 2022, the Tennessee Titans added him to their practice squad after his former NDSU teammate Dillon Radunz went on injured reserve. Johnson was elevated to the active roster for a game against the Dallas Cowboys, making his NFL debut in a 27–13 loss with four offensive and three special teams snaps. He signed a future contract on January 10, 2023, and was waived on August 27, 2023.
Birmingham Stallions Era (2023–2024)
On October 11, 2023, Johnson signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League, a move that gave him a more stable football home. In 2024 he was a key piece of the Stallions’ championship run, helping the team capture the UFL title. His strong play was recognized on June 5, 2024, when he was named to the 2024 All-UFL Team.
Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions Era (2024–2025)
Johnson continued to pursue an NFL opportunity, signing with the Cleveland Browns on July 27, 2024, only to be waived on August 26. On December 31, 2024, he joined the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025, before being waived on August 9. He signed with the Detroit Lions on August 14, 2025, and was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he is an offensive lineman rather than a driver, Johnson’s professional profile is built on positional versatility and consistency. He has started at both right tackle and right guard in college and has experience on NFL practice squads, futures contracts, and active game-day elevations. His combination of size, technique developed at North Dakota State, and willingness to play wherever a team needs him has kept him in professional football for several seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s career-defining milestones include four FCS national championships with North Dakota State, two FCS All-American selections, a UFL championship with the Birmingham Stallions in 2024, and an All-UFL Team nod that same year. His NFL debut came with the Tennessee Titans against the Dallas Cowboys, where he logged snaps on offense and special teams. Across his career, his professional NFL statistics include one game played.
Zack Johnson Career Wins
Zackary J. Johnson’s career has been defined more by championships, conference recognition, and roster perseverance than by headline statistics. His most prominent team wins are the four FCS national titles he earned as a member of the North Dakota State Bison (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019) and the 2024 UFL championship with the Birmingham Stallions.
North Dakota State and UFL Highlights
At North Dakota State, Johnson started at right tackle from 2017 through 2018 and then moved to right guard as a senior, anchoring offensive lines that powered the Bison to three consecutive national championships from 2017 through 2019. In 2018 he was an FCS All-American and a first-team All-MVFC pick, and in 2019 he repeated both honors while allowing just one sack. With the Birmingham Stallions, he earned All-UFL Team honors in 2024 and was part of the team’s UFL title-winning roster.
Other Performances
Outside of his championship runs, Johnson built his reputation as a reliable practice squad and short-term roster presence in the NFL, spending time with nine professional franchises. He has been elevated to active rosters multiple times and made his regular-season debut with the Tennessee Titans in 2022.
Zack Johnson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Johnson’s connection to football runs through his family. His brother, Ben, played college football for the Bemidji State Beavers, and that family background helped shape Zack’s interest in the sport from a young age. Growing up in Blaine, Minnesota, he was part of a household that supported athletic pursuits, which is reflected in his multi-sport high school resume at Spring Lake Park.
Personal Life
Johnson was born and raised in Minnesota and has spent much of his professional career relocating between NFL and UFL cities. Public details about a spouse or children are not clearly confirmed in available sources, so those areas of his personal life are not detailed here. He is active on social media, where he shares updates about his football career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Johnson’s storylines revolved around his continued pursuit of an NFL roster spot alongside his role with the Birmingham Stallions. He signed a reserve/future contract with the San Francisco 49ers in January 2025, which kept him in the NFL pipeline, but he was waived on August 9, 2025. Days later, on August 14, 2025, he signed with the Detroit Lions, only to be waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts.
These late-summer moves reflected the typical late-career journey of a versatile offensive lineman trying to find the right roster fit. With the UFL season in mind, Johnson also re-signed with the Birmingham Stallions on March 6, 2026, returning to the franchise where he had previously won a UFL title and earned All-UFL honors. That reunion gave him a clear opportunity to log meaningful playing time and compete for another championship.
Looking ahead, Johnson’s outlook centers on stability with the Stallions and remaining ready if another NFL opportunity arises. His combination of FCS pedigree, UFL production, and experience across multiple NFL practice squads and active game-day elevations makes him a dependable depth piece with proven championship experience.