Josh Johnson (quarterback)

Early years

Johnson attended Oakland Technical High School and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track & field. In football, as a senior, he was named the team's Most Improved Player, was a first team All-City selection, and led his team to the Oakland Athletic League Championship. He was also a teammate of future NFL player Marshawn Lynch.

2004–2005

Josh Johnson enrolled at University of San Diego in 2004, where he played backup quarterback to Todd Mortensen. He finished with 135 yards on the season.

Johnson earned the starting job after Mortensen's departure for the 2005 season. That season, he earned some All-America honors after breaking numerous records. Johnson, who earned three conference player of the week honors, totaled eight games with four or more passing touchdowns. His best game of the season came against Valparaiso, when he threw for a school-record seven touchdowns (all coming in the first half). He also had five touchdowns and 375 yards against Morehead State in the Pioneer Football League Championship victory. Johnson finished the season with 3,256 yards and 36 touchdowns, completing 70.1% of his passes en route to being named team MVP.

2006

After his record-setting sophomore season, Johnson continued his prosperity by being named third-team Associated Press All-America on his junior season. He was also named PFL Offensive Player of the Year as he led San Diego to a 10-0 start. He also led San Diego to their first Top 25 appearance in school history. Johnson finished his season with 3,320 yards and 34 touchdowns passing, and 720 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. He led the FCS in total offense, passing efficiency, passing yards, and points responsible for. Johnson totaled four games with over 300 yards passing, while his season-best was a 384-yard performance against Jacksonville. Johnson also had a 25-yard reception touchdown on the season. In the victory over Jacksonville, Johnson also set a school-record with 470 total yards of offense. Johnson finished 6th in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, for the best player in the FCS.

2007

After two tremendous seasons, Johnson entered the 2007 season on the Walter Payton Award watchlist and as a Preseason All-American. In Johnson's first game of the season, he passed for 403 yards and 4 touchdowns. He then followed it up with two straight games of six touchdowns. Against Davidson College, Johnson passed for a career-high 428 yards and 6 touchdowns. Johnson finished the season with 2,988 yards and a school-record 43 touchdowns passing, one interception, and a career-high 726 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Johnson finished the season as the school's record-holder in career touchdown passes and passing yards; he already owned the school record for career completions. Johnson finished the season by being named a third-team FCS All-American and a Payton Award finalist. Johnson holds the record for the highest career passer efficiency (176.68) in NCAA Division-I football history. He finished third in voting for the Walter Payton Award behind winner Jayson Foster.

After his senior football season, Johnson was invited to play in the 2008 East-West Shrine Game in Houston, Texas, and was named the game's Offensive MVP after finishing the game with 5 completions out of 11 pass attempts for 78 yards and a touchdown and 103 rushing yards on three attempts.

Career statistics

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Professional career

Despite his small school background, Johnson had his name on many team's draft boards. He was aided by his impressive NFL Combine performances, in which he posted the best 40-yard dash time (4.44), broad jump and vertical jump of any quarterback in the 2008 NFL Combine. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 25th pick of the fifth round (160th overall) in 2008 NFL Draft. He has been referred to as a journeyman quarterback for his stints with many different NFL teams.

2009–2010

Johnson made his first appearance in a regular season NFL game on September 27, 2009, at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium against the New York Giants. When Johnson replaced Byron Leftwich as Tampa Bay's quarterback with 9:33 remaining, the Buccaneers had accumulated only 35 total yards and one first down against the favored Giants. Taking his first pro snap, Johnson found Antonio Bryant for 6 yards, marking the afternoon's first reception by a Tampa Bay wide receiver. Johnson ran for 15 yards and added three more completions for 30 yards as the Buccaneers finished with 86 yards in a 24-0 loss. Johnson drove the Buccaneers from their own 24 to the New York 5-yard line in his only possession. One of Johnson's passes zipped through Michael Clayton's hands in the end zone.

Johnson was named the starting quarterback on September 28, 2009 and earned his first career start on October 4 in a 16-13 loss to the Washington Redskins. He threw his first career touchdown to Antonio Bryant on his first pass of the game. During the 2010 season, Johnson notched a 95.6 passer rating as backup quarterback, and also made appearances in the offense's wildcat formation. Johnson was a back up to Josh Freeman in 2010, completing 14 of 16 passes for 111 yards.

2011

On December 4, 2011, Johnson started in place of the injured Josh Freeman against the Carolina Panthers. Johnson completed 16 of his 27 passing attempts with 229 passing yards, one touchdown pass, and one interception. Tampa Bay lost the game 38-19. He also made a brief appearance the following week, but attempted only two passes, one for 3 yards, and the other an interception.

San Francisco 49ers

On March 24, 2012, Johnson signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, reuniting with his coach from the University of San Diego, Jim Harbaugh. On August 31, 2012, Johnson was one of 21 players cut as the 49ers trimmed their roster to the 53 man limit for the regular season.

Johnson tried out for the Chicago Bears on December 12.

Sacramento Mountain Lions

Johnson played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League in 2012.

Cleveland Browns

On December 26, 2012, the Cleveland Browns announced they signed Johnson after injuries to Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy.

Cincinnati Bengals

On March 21, 2013, Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. and later released on May 12, 2014.

Second stint with 49ers

Johnson signed with the San Francisco 49ers in May 2014. He was released on September 20, 2014, re-signed on September 23, 2014, released again on October 10, 2014 and re-signed on October 14, 2014. Johnson was repeatedly signed and released to give the 49ers a 54th roster spot.

Second stint with Bengals

Johnson was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals on April 2, 2015. He was released on August 25, 2015.

New York Jets

Johnson signed with the New York Jets on August 27, 2015. He was released by the Jets on September 5, 2015.

Indianapolis Colts

On October 2, 2015, Johnson signed with the Indianapolis Colts due to an injury to starter Andrew Luck. He was released on October 5, but subsequently re-signed on October 7. He was released yet again on October 12.

Buffalo Bills

On October 13, 2015, Johnson signed with the Buffalo Bills.

Baltimore Ravens

Johnson signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 16, 2016. Johnson was released by the Ravens on September 3, 2016.

New York Giants

Johnson was signed by the New York Giants on September 5, 2016. Johnson was active for only two games during the regular season due to injuries to backup quarterback Ryan Nassib.

On March 17, 2017, Johnson signed a two-year contract with the Giants. On September 2, 2017, Johnson was released by the Giants during pre-season cuts.

Career statistics

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