Veteran RB Officially Announces Retirement From NFL
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Duke Johnson #29 of the Cleveland Browns goes for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the four quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. Johnson has announced his decision to retire from the NFL.
Former NFL running back Duke Johnson has officially called it quits from playing professional football in the NFL. Johnson announced his retirement after eight seasons in the league on May 5.
Johnson was originally drafted in the third round by the Cleveland Browns in the 2015 NFL Draft. He played his college ball at the University of Miami, becoming a star with the Hurricanes. His best season with the Hurricanes came in 2014 when he posted 1,652 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He finished his three-year college career with 3,519 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns while catching 69 passes for 719 yards and 4.0 touchdowns. Johnson decided to forgo his senior season to pursue his career in the NFL.
Once he was drafted by the Browns, the future was looking bright for the running back. However, injuries started to take their toll very quickly in his career. He injured his hamstring on the first day of the Browns’ training camp, missing the first preseason game. Once he was finally able to get back onto the field, he suffered a concussion and was taken out of the game.
Johnson was eventually named the backup running back for Cleveland behind Isaiah Crowell, giving him a chance to earn his keep. In his first-ever NFL game, Johnson rushed for 22 yards on seven carries. His rookie season never materialized much success as he finished the year rushing for 379 yards on 104 attempts.
His next few seasons in Cleveland were more of the same, with his rookie year being the more productive with the Browns. Johnson was eventually traded to the Houston Texans for a conditional draft pick in 2019. His first year with Houston was the most impactful of his career. He rushed for 410 yards and two touchdowns over 16 games played.
Johnson spent two seasons in Houston before being released in 2021. He signed onto the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad shortly after but was released only a few weeks later.
The Miami Dolphins took a chance on Johnson following his release from Jacksonville, but his time in South Beach was short. He appeared in just five games for them, posting 330 yards and three touchdowns. The final act of Johnson’s career came with the Buffalo Bills, where he appeared in one game, rushing for four yards on two attempts.
He hasn’t played in the NFL since being let go by Buffalo and is now calling it quits. His career never took off like many believed it could, but he still played longer than many others. Johnson’s career numbers came in at 2265 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns. He also caught 311 passes for 3,870 yards and 12 scores through the air.
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