David Johnson, who amassed 6,876 yards from scrimmage and 58 touchdowns in eight seasons, announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday.
Johnson, who last played in a regular-season game in 2022, for the New Orleans Saints, made the announcement on Instagram.
“I’m looking forward to my next career path in life,” he wrote in his post. “I don’t know exactly what that will be, but I hope it will bring me the same passion, excitement, and love as football did!”
The Arizona Cardinals selected Johnson out of Northern Iowa in the third round of the 2015 draft. Two games into his pro career, his jersey and cleats were sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, after he became the first player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and kickoff return touchdown within the first two games of a career.
“I am blessed and very appreciative of the Cardinals drafting me in the 3rd round and I started my NFL career hitting the ground running (literally)! 2 games in, getting my uniform and cleats put in the Pro football Hall of Fame in Canton,” he wrote in his post.
In his second season, Johnson led the NFL in both yards from scrimmage (2,118) and total touchdowns (20) en route to being selected first team All-Pro and earning the only Pro Bowl selection of his career. Johnson ran for 1,239 yards that season, the only time he surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in his career.
Johnson, 32, played five seasons for the Cardinals before he was traded to the Houston Texans in 2020 in a deal that sent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona. He played two seasons in Houston before appearing in five games for the Saints in 2022.
He finished his career with 4,071 yards rushing and 2,805 yards receiving. Of his 58 touchdowns, 39 came rushing, 18 receiving and one on a kickoff return. He had 33 rushing touchdowns with the Cardinals, tied for third in franchise history.
“When it’s all said and done, I really hope I impacted at least 1 person on and off the field in a positive way,” he wrote. “I hope I was able to pay it forward, from the countless people who guided and taught me the right way to go about business, and giving back with integrity and a humble demeanor!”
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