John Johnson III Bio
John Johnson III is an American professional football player who serves as a safety for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League. Born on December 19, 1995, in Hyattsville, Maryland, Johnson has built a reputation as a reliable and versatile defensive back during his professional career. He played college football at Boston College before being selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Johnson has demonstrated his value as a starter throughout his career, earning significant contracts and contributing to playoff teams with both the Rams and Cleveland Browns.
Early Life and Background
John Johnson III grew up in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he attended Northwestern High School. During his senior year at Northwestern, Johnson played both wide receiver and safety under head coach Brian Pierre. He delivered an impressive performance, finishing with 50 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, 6 tackles for a loss, and 5 interceptions. Despite his productive high school career, Johnson received a two-star recruit rating from both 247Sports and Rivals.com.
Despite the modest recruiting rating, Johnson attracted attention from multiple college programs. He received ten scholarship offers total, including ones from Boston College, Lehigh, Bucknell, Buffalo, Duke, UMass, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Towson, and Ohio. On June 1, 2012, Johnson took his only college visit to Boston College. He then attended a camp held by Boston College in late June, where coaches rated him as very impressive and among the top performers. Boston College special teams coordinator and defensive line coach Al Washington recruited him to join the football program. Johnson officially committed to Boston College on July 23, 2012, citing academics as his primary reason for choosing the school.
Path to the NFL
Johnson began attending Boston College in 2013 and immediately made an impact. He played cornerback and contributed on special teams as a freshman. Johnson made his collegiate debut in the Eagles’ season-opening 24-14 victory over Villanova. He saw action in 12 games during his freshman season, finishing with 4 combined tackles, a tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery. Over his four years at Boston College from 2013 to 2016, Johnson developed into a reliable defensive back with the tools that would serve him well at the professional level.
During his senior year, Johnson accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl on January 28, 2017, playing for the North team in their 15-16 loss to the South. He impressed scouts during the practice week leading up to the game and had a meeting with the Indianapolis Colts. Johnson completed all required drills at the NFL Combine and participated at Boston College’s pro day on March 14, 2017, where he attempted the broad jump and positional drills. Twenty NFL teams had representatives and scouts at the pro day, including defensive backs coaches from the New York Jets and Detroit Lions. DraftScout.com ranked Johnson as the seventh best free safety prospect in the 2017 draft class.
John Johnson III Career
Los Angeles Rams (2017-2020)
The Los Angeles Rams selected John Johnson III in the third round with the 91st overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the tenth safety selected in that draft class. On June 9, 2017, the Rams signed Johnson to a four-year contract worth $3.25 million that included a $757,752 signing bonus. Throughout training camp, Johnson competed against Lamarcus Joyner, Maurice Alexander, Isaiah Johnson, Blake Countess, and Cody Davis for the starting strong safety position following the departure of T.J. McDonald. Head coach Sean McVay initially named Johnson the third strong safety on the depth chart behind Maurice Alexander and Lamarcus Joyner.
Johnson made his professional debut on September 10, 2017, in the Rams’ home-opener against the Indianapolis Colts, making one solo tackle in the 46-9 victory. On October 8, 2017, he earned his first career start, replacing Maurice Alexander after poor performance, and recorded 3 combined tackles, 2 pass deflections, and his first career interception on a pass by Russell Wilson during a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The following day, the Rams released Maurice Alexander and named Johnson the starting strong safety. He finished his rookie season with 75 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games with 11 starts. Pro Football Focus awarded him an overall grade of 85.8, ranking him 15th among all qualifying safeties in 2017. The Rams finished the season 11-5 and made the playoffs, where Johnson made 6 combined tackles in their loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the Wild Card round.
Breakthrough Seasons (2018-2020)
The 2018 season marked Johnson’s emergence as one of the league’s top safeties. He started in all 16 games and recorded 119 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, a career-high 4 interceptions, and a forced fumble. His standout moments included intercepting passes in consecutive weeks against Denver and San Francisco, and a crucial interception during the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints that helped advance the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. In that championship game, Johnson made 7 combined tackles as the Rams defeated the Saints 26-23 in overtime. The Rams finished the regular season 13-3, earning a first-round bye, and Johnson started in Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots, making 7 tackles in the 13-3 loss.
Johnson’s 2019 season was cut short by injury. He started in the season-opener against the Carolina Panthers and recorded 11 combined tackles before suffering a shoulder injury in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams placed him on injured reserve on October 16, 2019, ending his season after only 6 games. He finished 2019 with 51 combined tackles, 2 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions. The 2020 season saw Johnson return to full strength, starting all 16 games and recording 105 combined tackles, 8 pass deflections, and 1 interception. He helped the Rams earn a Wildcard berth with a 10-6 record, making 3 solo tackles in their playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks before the team lost to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round.
Cleveland Browns (2021-2022)
After becoming an unrestricted free agent following the 2020 season, Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns on March 15, 2021. He agreed to a three-year contract worth $33.75 million that included $24 million guaranteed and a $12 million signing bonus. Johnson immediately became the starting strong safety for the Browns under head coach Kevin Stefanski, pairing with Ronnie Harrison. He made his Browns debut in the season-opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording 5 combined tackles in the loss. Johnson recorded his first interception with the Browns in Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals and finished the 2021 season with 61 combined tackles, 5 pass deflections, 3 interceptions, and a forced fumble in 15 games and 15 starts.
In the 2022 season, Johnson started 14 games and recorded 81 total tackles, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. The Browns released Johnson on March 15, 2023, as a designated Post June 1 release, making him available to sign with another team.
Return to Los Angeles Rams (2023-Present)
Johnson returned to the Los Angeles Rams on August 7, 2023, signing a one-year contract worth $1.08 million at the veteran minimum. He reclaimed his starting role, making his first interception back with the Rams on December 3 against his former team, the Cleveland Browns, in a 36-19 victory. Johnson started the final seven games of the regular season and played in the Rams’ 24-23 Wildcard loss to the Detroit Lions. On July 11, 2024, the Rams re-signed Johnson to a one-year extension worth $1.37 million that included $750,000 guaranteed and a $135,000 signing bonus. During the 2024 season, Johnson suffered a hairline fracture in his scapula in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals, forcing him to injured reserve for the remainder of the regular season. He was activated for and played briefly in the Rams’ 27-9 Wildcard victory over the Minnesota Vikings before becoming a free agent following the season. On August 27, 2025, Johnson was suspended for three games by the NFL.
Playing Style and Strengths
Johnson is known for his physical style of play and ability to impact games from the safety position. His instincts and ball skills have allowed him to record 15 career interceptions through the 2024 season. He demonstrates consistent tackling ability and has shown versatility in both run defense and pass coverage throughout his career. Johnson’s experience playing in multiple systems under different coordinators has helped him adapt to various defensive schemes. His leadership qualities have been evident throughout his career, earning him the trust of coaches who frequently name him a starter entering each season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s career has been marked by several significant achievements. His overtime interception against the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 NFC Championship Game stands as one of the defining moments of his career, helping send the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. He has started 91 career games over eight seasons and accumulated 562 total tackles. Johnson’s consistency has allowed him to maintain a starting role wherever he has played, including two separate stints with the Rams. His return to Los Angeles in 2023 after a two-year hiatus with the Browns demonstrated his continued value to the organization that originally drafted him.
John Johnson III Career Statistics
Johnson has compiled impressive career statistics across his eight NFL seasons, establishing himself as a reliable starting safety in the league. His versatility has allowed him to contribute in multiple facets of the defense throughout his career with the Rams and Browns.
Career Highlights
Through the 2024 season, Johnson has recorded 562 total tackles, 15 interceptions, 48 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 sack in 119 career games with 91 starts. His most productive season came in 2018 when he recorded 119 tackles and a career-high 4 interceptions while helping the Rams reach the Super Bowl. Johnson has demonstrated consistency as a starter, missing only minimal games due to injury throughout his career. His ability to create turnovers stands out as a particular strength, with his 15 career interceptions reflecting his playmaking ability from the safety position.
Notable Achievements
Among Johnson’s career highlights are his selection to the 2017 NFL All-Rookie team, his pivotal role in the Rams’ run to Super Bowl LIII in the 2018 season, and his consistent starting roles with multiple franchises. His performance in the 2018 NFC Championship Game, where he recorded a key overtime interception against the Saints, helped cement his reputation as a clutch performer in high-pressure situations. Johnson’s durability and reliability have allowed him to maintain a starting role across three different organizations during his professional career.
| Season | Team | Games | Total Tackles | Interceptions | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Los Angeles Rams | 16 | 75 | 1 | 11 |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Rams | 16 | 119 | 4 | 11 |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Rams | 6 | 51 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Rams | 16 | 105 | 1 | 8 |
| 2021 | Cleveland Browns | 15 | 61 | 3 | 5 |
| 2022 | Cleveland Browns | 14 | 81 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | Los Angeles Rams | 17 | 70 | 3 | 11 |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Rams | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
John Johnson III Family
Family Background
Details about John Johnson III’s family background are not extensively documented in public sources. He was born and raised in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he attended Northwestern High School. His family supported his athletic pursuits from an early age, which helped him develop into a Division I college player and eventual NFL draft pick.
Personal Life
Johnson maintains a public profile on social media platforms including Instagram. He has shared glimpses of his life with his fan base, though he keeps details about his personal relationships relatively private. His focus remains on his football career and continuing to contribute to whichever team he plays for in the NFL.
2025 Season Outlook
Following the 2024 season where Johnson was limited to just 5 games due to a scapula injury, he became a free agent. The Rams signed him to a one-year extension in July 2024, demonstrating their continued confidence in his abilities. However, his 2025 season was immediately impacted when the NFL suspended him for three games on August 27, 2025. The details of the suspension remain undisclosed. Johnson’s career trajectory will depend on how he performs upon returning from the suspension and whether he can reclaim a starting role with the Rams or another team. His experience and track record suggest he can still contribute at a high level in the NFL, though the suspension adds uncertainty to his immediate future in the league. Teams will likely evaluate his on-field performance and character considerations before committing to him long-term as he continues his professional career beyond his 30th birthday.