Anthony Johnson Jr.

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Anthony Johnson Jr.
No. 26 – Chicago Bears
PositionSafety
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1999-12-02) December 2, 1999
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolSt. Petersburg
CollegeIowa State (2018–2022)
NFL draft2023: 7th round, 242nd overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2026
Total tackles29
Pass deflections4
Interceptions1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Anthony Christopher Johnson Jr. (born December 2, 1999) is an American professional football safety for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.

Early life

Johnson Jr. grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida and attended St. Petersburg High School.[1] He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Iowa State over an offer from South Florida.[2]

College career

Johnson played cornerback for his first four seasons with the Iowa State Cyclones and became a starter during his freshman year.[3] As a senior, he was named honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference after making 55 tackles with three tackles for loss, four passes broken up, and two forced fumbles.[4] Johnson used the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to Iowa State for a fifth season.[5] He moved to safety entering his final season.[6] Johnson was named second team All-Big 12 after finishing the year with 60 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes broken up.[7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 11+5⁄8 in
(1.82 m)		205 lb
(93 kg)		31+1⁄4 in
(0.79 m)		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		6 ft 3+7⁄8 in
(1.93 m)		4.54 s1.55 s2.59 s4.31 s7.07 s37.5 in
(0.95 m)		10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)		12 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[8][9]

Green Bay Packers

Johnson was selected in the seventh round, 242nd overall, by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.[10] The pick had originally belonged to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was traded to the Packers in August 2022 for offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen.[11] Johnson signed his rookie contract on May 5.[12]

Johnson would not make his NFL regular season debut until Week 7 in a 17–19 loss against the Denver Broncos. He only played 15 snaps during the game, 11 of them being on special teams. Johnson made his first career start in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams, covering for injured safety Rudy Ford.[13] This turned out to be Johnson's "breakout game", where in the fourth quarter, Rams' quarterback Brett Rypien's pass intended for receiver Cooper Kupp was tipped by Packers' cornerback Jaire Alexander, which allowed Johnson to make a play on the ball and come down with the interception.[14] He finished the game with two pass deflections, one tackle, one interception and played every defensive snap as Green Bay went on to win 20–3.[15] Johnson's best showing as a rookie came Week 12 on Thanksgiving Day in a 29–22 win over their NFC North rival Detroit Lions. He finished with eight total tackles and one pass deflection.[16]

Johnson was released as part of final roster cuts on August 27, 2024.[17]

New York Giants

Johnson was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants on August 28, 2024.[18] He was active for 9 games in the 2024 season, where he was primarily used as a special teams player. He would eventually record 21 snaps on defense, all of them coming in the last two games of the season.

On July 22, 2025, Johnson was waived by the Giants after a failed physical.[19] He cleared waivers the next day, reverting to the reserve/PUP list on July 23.[20] After spending the 2025 season on injured reserve, Johnson was released by the team on March 10, 2026.[21][22]

Chicago Bears

On May 21, 2026, Johnson signed with the Chicago Bears.[23]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckSftyPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFR
2023GB 124241860.003111.01000
2024 NYG 9 0 5 2 3 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career214292090.004111.01000
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckSftyPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFR
2023GB 202200.00000.00000
Career202200.00000.00000
Source: pro-football-reference.com

References

  1. Wasserman, Dalton (April 25, 2023). "Why Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson Jr. is flying up PFF's draft board". Pro Football Focus. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  2. Hoyt, Joseph (May 19, 2017). "Football: Cyclones get third commitment in three days, add verbal from Anthony Johnson Jr". Ames Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  3. Chan, Jennifer Lee (March 2, 2023). "Purdy's Iowa State teammate shares what he learned from 49ers QB". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  4. "Iowa State's Anthony Johnson 'leading the way' after shift from cornerback to safety". The Gazette. May 6, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  5. "Iowa State starting cornerback Anthony Johnson Jr. skips NFL Draft, will return for the 2022 season". The Des Moines Register. December 8, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  6. "Iowa State defense boosted by Anthony Johnson after switch to safety". The Des Moines Register. September 13, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  7. Dochterman, Scott (April 12, 2023). "Breaking down Iowa State Cyclones' 2023 NFL Draft prospects: Where could they end up?". The Athletic. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  8. "Anthony Johnson Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  9. "2023 NFL Draft Scout Anthony Johnson Jr. College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  10. "2023 NFL Draft: Packers select Iowa State S Anthony Johnson Jr. in seventh round, No. 242 overall". packers.com. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  11. "Packers trade T/G Cole Van Lanen to the Jacksonville Jaguars". Packers.com. August 24, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  12. "Packers sign eight draft picks". packers.com. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  13. "Packers list LB Quay Walker, S Rudy Ford as questionable for Sunday | Week 9 Injury Report". www.packers.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  14. "Key to the Game: Next men up step up for Packers' defense". www.packers.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  15. "Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers - November 5th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  16. "Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions - November 23rd, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  17. "Packers announce roster moves". Packers.com. August 27, 2024.
  18. Obermuller, Michael (August 28, 2024). "Giants Claim 'Seventh-Round Gem' to Active Roster: Report". Heavy.com. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  19. Salomone, Dan. "Andrew Thomas, Eric Gray placed on PUP list; Victor Dimukeje on NFI". giants.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  20. Allen, Ely (July 25, 2025). "Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/25". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  21. Salamone, Dan; Citak, Matt. "2026 New York Giants Free Agency Tracker". giants.com. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  22. "Giants' Anthony Johnson: Waived by New York". CBS Sports. March 10, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  23. "Chicago Bears announce roster moves". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved May 21, 2026.