Austin Johnson (defensive lineman)

Austin Johnson

Johnson with the Tennessee Titans in 2018
No. 98 – Buffalo Bills
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1994-05-08) May 8, 1994 (age 29) Galloway, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	314 lb (142 kg)
Career information
High school:	St. Augustine Preparatory School (Richland, New Jersey)
College:	Penn State
NFL draft:	2016  / Round: 2 / Pick: 43
Career history
Tennessee Titans (2016–2019) New York Giants (2020–2021) Los Angeles Chargers (2022–2023) Buffalo Bills (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles: 241 Sacks: 8.0 Forced fumbles: 2 Fumble recoveries: 2 Pass deflections: 10
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Austin Hunter Johnson (born May 8, 1994) is an American football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State, and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Early years

Johnson was born in Galloway Township, New Jersey to parents Austin and Tammy Johnson, the third of four children – he has two older sisters and one younger sister. He attended St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, New Jersey with plans to play basketball in hopes of someday playing in college. He did play basketball, and earned all-state accolades his senior year. However, the football coach convinced him to try out for the football team, and he did. Subsequently, he was recruited by Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who convinced him not only to commit to Penn State, but to keep his commitment after crippling sanctions were announced in wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, as well as the arrival of new coach Bill O'Brien. ^[1]

College career

"An unheralded prep player from New Jersey who spent as much time on the basketball court as the football field," Johnson redshirted his freshman season, but entered training camp in 2013 eager to make an impact on the defensive line, establishing himself as a candidate to start opposite DaQuan Jones, Penn State's star defensive tackle that season. ^[2] Mentored by Larry Johnson, Jones, and Jordan Hill, Austin Johnson proved himself early in the season, and earned a spot in the rotation at defensive tackle with Jones and Kyle Baublitz. ^[1] At the conclusion of the 2013 season, he was named a member of the freshman all-conference teams by both ESPN.com, and the Big Ten Network. ^[3]

Entering his redshirt sophomore season firmly established on the defensive line along with converted defensive end Anthony Zettel. He sought to "lead by example"; Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop asserted that he was a consummate Penn State defensive tackle, drawing comparisons to Jones and Jack Crawford, among others. ^[4] The Patriot News columnist Bob Flounders rated him among the most important components to Penn State's team entering the 2014 season. ^[5] Early in the season, he did not compile many defensive statistics, but Penn State coach James Franklin commented, "[Johnson is] probably the most athletic 315-pound guy I've been around. The thing I like the most about him is every time I see him when he walks in the building or he's out at practice, he's got a huge smile on his face," going onto note that he has the ability to "wreck" an opponent's game. ^[6] He has the ability to draw a double-team from opponents' offensive lines, which frees other defensive linemen, linebackers, and safeties to make plays at the line of scrimmage. Four games into Penn State's season, they had the best rush defense in the country, which Franklin attributed largely to the efforts of Johnson. ^[7] He is majored in business administration at Penn State.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Coming out of Penn State, the majority of scouts and analysts projected Johnson to be a second round pick. He was invited to the NFL Combine and was able to complete all the drills and positional workouts. Scouts and representatives from 31 NFL teams attended Penn State's pro day to evaluate Johnson, Christian Hackenberg, Jordan Lucas, Anthony Zettel, Carl Nassib, and eight other prospects. He chose to only perform positional drills. Johnson was ranked the ninth best defensive tackle by NFLDraftScout.com and ranked the 14th best defensive tackle (80th overall) by Sports Illustrated . ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press	Wonderlic
6 ft 4+3⁄8 in (1.94 m)	314 lb (142 kg)	32+3⁄4 in (0.83 m)	9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m)	5.32 s	1.86 s	3.07 s	4.75 s	7.84 s	26 in (0.66 m)	8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)	25 reps	34 [11]
All values from NFL Combine [12] [13]

Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans selected Johnson in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. ^[14] He was the sixth defensive tackle selected and the first of five Penn State players drafted. ^[15]

On May 9, 2016, the Titans signed Johnson to a four-year, $5.66 million contract with $3.02 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.31 million. ^{[16] [17]}

Johnson entered training camp competing for the starting nose tackle position with Al Woods and Antwaun Woods. ^[18] He was named the backup nose tackle to veteran Al Woods to begin the regular season. ^[19]

Johnson made his NFL debut in the Titans' season opener against the Minnesota Vikings and made one tackle in the 25–16 loss. During a Week 11 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, he made two solo tackles and was credited with half a sack on Andrew Luck, as the Titans lost 24–17. On December 18, 2016, he made a season-high four combined tackles during a 19-17 road victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

As a rookie in 2016, Johnson appeared in 10 games and finished with 15 tackles and a half-sack. ^[20]

In the 2019 season, Johnson appeared in 16 games, starting one. He had 23 total tackles and no sacks for the first time in his career.

New York Giants

On March 30, 2020, Johnson was signed by the New York Giants. ^[21]

In Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson recorded his first sack and forced fumble as a Giant during the 17–9 loss. ^[22]

On March 17, 2021, Johnson re-signed with the Giants. ^[23] He started all 17 games, recording a career-high 72 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Los Angeles Chargers

On March 16, 2022, Johnson signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. ^[24] He suffered a knee injury in Week 9 and was placed on injured reserve on November 9, 2022. ^[25]

Johnson started all 17 games in 2023, recording 46 tackles, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.

Buffalo Bills

On March 28, 2024, Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. ^[26]

Personal life

Johnson is married to former Lingerie Football League football league player Danika Brace.

NFL statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackling				Fumbles				Interceptions
		GP	GS	Comb	Solo	Ast	Sack	FF	FR	Yds	TD	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
2016	TEN	10	0	14	7	7	0.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
2017	TEN	16	3	24	15	9	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
2018	TEN	16	9	22	13	9	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	2
2019	TEN	16	1	23	11	12	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
2020	NYG	16	0	18	8	10	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
2021	NYG	17	17	72	31	41	3.5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
Career		91	30	173	85	88	7.0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	7

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Interceptions						Fumbles
		GP	GS	Comb	Solo	Ast	Sack	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2017	TEN	2	1	4	2	2	0.0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
2019	TEN	3	0	1	1	0	0.0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career		5	1	5	3	2	0.0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0

References

1. Juliano, Joe (October 2, 2013). "Penn State's Johnson happy he chose football". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
2. Hockensmith, Dustin (March 29, 2013). "Penn State football: A look at Austin Johnson's unheralded past and 'bright future'". The Patriot News . Harrisburg, Pennsylvania . Retrieved September 28, 2014.
3. "Eight Nittany Lions earn All-Big Ten honors from ESPN.com and BTN.com". GoPSUSports.com - Penn State Official Athletic Site. Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. December 16, 2013. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
4. Snyder, Audrey (April 30, 2014). "Man in the middle: Penn State DT Austin Johnson continues coming into his own". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
5. Flounders, Bob (July 21, 2014). "Breaking down Penn State's most important players: No. 14 DT Austin Johnson". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
6. Bodani, Frank (September 24, 2014). "Penn State's Austin Johnson is Nittany Lions' low-key game-wrecker". York Daily Record . Archived from the original on October 1, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
7. Juliano, Joe (September 27, 2014). "Penn State's Austin Johnson a terror on defense". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
8. "2016 NFL Draft: Big board Top 100 prospects". si.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
9. "*Austin Johnson, DS #9 DT, Penn State: 2016 NFL Draft". nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
10. "NFL Pro Day Central: Penn State". gopsusports.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
11. McGinn, Bob (April 24, 2016). "Rating the NFL draft prospects: Defensive linemen". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022.
12. "Austin Johnson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
13. "2016 NFL Draft Scout Austin Johnson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
14. Wyatt, Jim (April 29, 2016). "Titans Target, Land Penn State DL Austin Johnson". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
15. "Austin Johnson Draft Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
16. Wyatt, Jim (May 9, 2016). "Titans agree to terms with six draft picks". TitansOnline.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
17. "Sportrac.com: Austin Johnson". Sportrac.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
18. "Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titan's depth chart: 07/30/2016". ourlads.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
19. "Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titan's depth chart: 09/29/2016". ourlads.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
20. Wyatt, Jim (August 2, 2019). "Austin Johnson". TitansOnline.com.
21. "Reports: Giants agree to terms with DL Austin Johnson". Giants.com. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
22. "New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams - October 4th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
23. Eisen, Michael (March 17, 2021). "Nate Solder signs new contract, will return to Giants". Giants.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
24. "Los Angeles Chargers Announce Free Agency Moves". March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
25. "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Breiden Fehoko to Active Roster; Place Austin Johnson on Injured Reserve". Chargers.com. November 9, 2022.
26. "Bills sign DT Austin Johnson to one-year deal". BuffaloBills.com. March 28, 2024.

External links

• Penn State Biography
• New York Giants bio