Josh Johnson’s Remarkable NFL Journey Has Lasted Nearly Two Decades

The Cincinnati Bengals have two well-known quarterbacks on the roster in Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco who are in the spotlight all the time, but there’s another who has been searching for his moment for almost 20 years.

Josh Johnson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He never earned the starting job in Tampa Bay, saw stints with the Cleveland Browns and spent a year with the Bengals in 2013 before exploring options in both the UFL and XFL.

He eventually returned to the NFL in 2020 and has since played for five different teams and finds himself back in Cincinnati this season. Now, at 40 years old, Johnson is getting the start in the Bengals’ second preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday night.

Johnson wasn’t a highly touted recruit out of Oakland Technical High School at just 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, but current Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh saw something in him. Johnson eventually agreed to play for Harbaugh at San Diego, choosing the Toreros over St. Mary’s and Idaho State.

He then went on to become a star at San Diego, becoming the school’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions and finding himself in a place to be drafted into the NFL.

After joining the Buccaneers, the journey took a wrong turn, and Johnson struggled to find his footing in the NFL. He was never able to secure a starting role, but 18 years later, he finds himself as the starting quarterback for the Bengals.

It may just be a preseason game to most, but Johnson sees this as another opportunity to seize the moment.

In an interview with Joe Danneman of FOX 19, Johnson discussed his journey to becoming the preseason starter for the Bengals. He said he is proud of how he got to where he is today and showing people that there isn’t a certain path you have to follow to find success not only in the NFL, but in every aspect of life.

Johnson wants to continue to have the mindset of taking every chance he gets to take the field in professional football and to stay resilient when things may not go his way.

He’ll take the field in the orange and black on Saturday night and lead the Bengals out onto the field at Paycor Stadium, making a statement that there isn’t a defined way to play in the NFL.