Chad Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chad Johnson

Johnson with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006
No. 85
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1978-01-09) January 9, 1978 (age 47) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:	Miami Beach Senior
College:	Santa Monica (1997–1999) Oregon State (2000)
NFL Draft:	2001 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36
Career history
Cincinnati Bengals (2001) New England Patriots (2011) Miami Dolphins (2012)* Montreal Alouettes (2014) Fundidores de Monterrey (2017)
Career highlights and awards
2× First-team All-Pro (2005, 2006) Second-team All-Pro (2003) 6× Pro Bowl (2003–2007, 2009) NFL receiving yards leader (2006) Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor Cincinnati Bengals 40th Anniversary Team Cincinnati Bengals 50th Anniversary Team
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 766 Receiving yards: 11,059 Receiving touchdowns: 67
Career CFL statistics
Receptions: 7 Receiving yards: 151 Receiving touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR
Player stats at CFL.ca (archive)

Chad Ochocinco Johnson (born Chad Javon Johnson, January 9, 1978) is a famous American former football player. He was a wide receiver for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). From 2008 to 2012, he was known as Chad Ochocinco.

He played college football for the Santa Monica Corsairs and the Oregon State Beavers. In the NFL, he played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots. The Bengals picked him in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft. He played for them for 10 seasons. Ochocinco means "eight five" in Spanish, which was also his jersey number. In 2011, Johnson joined the Patriots and played in Super Bowl XLVI.

In 2012, Johnson played for the Miami Dolphins during preseason. He was later released by the team. He then played for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2014 to 2015. In 2017, he played one game for the Mexican team Fundidores de Monterrey. Johnson became one of the best wide receivers in the NFL during the 2000s. He holds many receiving records for the Bengals.

In April 2011, CNBC said Johnson was one of the "most influential athletes in social media." He was chosen for the Pro Bowl six times. He was also named to three All-Pro teams. The Bengals also picked him as the top wide receiver for their 40th Anniversary team.

Early Life and College Football

Growing Up in Miami

Chad Johnson was born in Miami, Florida. He went to Miami Beach Senior High School. He also briefly attended Langston University, but he did not play football there.

Playing at Santa Monica College

In 1997, Johnson moved to Santa Monica College. This is a community college in Santa Monica, California. While there, he played football with Steve Smith, who also became an NFL wide receiver.

Success at Oregon State

In 2000, Johnson transferred to Oregon State University. Coach Dennis Erickson really wanted him to play for the OSU team. He helped his team have a great 11–1 season. They also won the Fiesta Bowl 41–9 against Notre Dame. Johnson also set a school record with a 97-yard touchdown catch against Stanford. In his one season at Oregon State, he played 12 games. He caught 37 passes for 886 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Professional Football Career

Joining the Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals picked Chad Johnson in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft. He was the 36th player chosen overall.

Early Seasons with the Bengals (2001–2004)

In his first year (2001), Johnson played a fair amount. He caught 28 passes for 329 yards and one touchdown. In 2002, he had 69 catches for 1,166 yards and five touchdowns. In 2003, he set a Bengals record with 1,355 receiving yards. In 2004, he caught 95 passes for nine touchdowns and 1,274 yards. This included 117 yards in a big 58–48 win against the Cleveland Browns.

Breaking Records in 2005

Johnson broke his own record in 2005, getting 1,432 receiving yards. He led the AFC in receiving yards for four years in a row. He also went to the Pro Bowl five times from 2003 to 2007.

The "Who Covered 85" List

During the 2005 NFL season, Johnson started a fun checklist. It was called who Covered 85 in '05. This list was to see which defensive backs could stop him. On November 2, 2005, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis changed Johnson's list. The new list was called Did 85 do everything he could to lead his team to victory 11-6-05. This new list made fun of their rival, the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson did not like the new list because he believed in the old one. He played very well in the game, so his original list came back.

In 2007, Degree and Yahoo! made an online version of his checklist. Fans could vote for which NFL quarterback Johnson would like to play catch with. Every vote helped him raise money for his charity, "Feed the Children".

Leading the League in 2006

On April 20, 2006, Johnson signed a contract extension until 2011.

He started the 2006 season slowly due to an injury. But after changing his mindset, he had an amazing game against the San Diego Chargers. Johnson gained 260 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns. This broke the Bengals' record for most receiving yards in a game. The next week, he had 190 receiving yards and three touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints. This gave Johnson an NFL record of 450 receiving yards in two games.

Johnson finished the 2006 season with 87 catches for a league-leading 1,369 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the first Bengal to lead the NFL in receiving yards. Johnson and his teammate T. J. Houshmandzadeh both had over 1,000 receiving yards that season.

Johnson was also very popular with fans. He got the most votes for wide receivers in the 2006 Pro Bowl fan voting. He was known for his exciting end zone celebrations. Fox Sports even listed him as one of the top 10 showboats in sports in 2006.

Big Plays in 2007

In the first game of the 2007 season, Johnson scored a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. After the touchdown, he put on a jacket that looked like a Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket. It said, "Future H.O.F. 20??" He finished that game with 95 yards and a touchdown. In the next game, he had 209 yards and two touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns. This broke the Bengals' career receiving yards record held by Isaac Curtis.

In a game against the Buffalo Bills, Johnson had a head injury scare. He was taken off the field on a stretcher. But a scan showed no serious injury, and he did not miss any games.

Johnson had a great game on November 25 against the Tennessee Titans. He caught a career-high 12 passes for 103 yards and three touchdowns. This was his sixth straight season with over 1,000 receiving yards. He also passed Carl Pickens to become the Bengals' all-time leader in receptions.

Johnson finished the 2007 season with 93 catches for 1,440 yards and 8 touchdowns. His 1,440 yards set a new Bengals' franchise record. He was selected for his fifth straight Pro Bowl.

The 2008 Season and Name Change

Chad Johnson in 2007.

In early 2008, Johnson talked about feeling misunderstood by the team. He said he was called "selfish and a cancer." He even hinted at wanting to be traded. However, coach Marvin Lewis said Johnson would stay with the Bengals.

On August 29, Johnson legally changed his last name to Ochocinco.

The Bengals started the season with 0 wins and 8 losses. Johnson had his lowest statistical season so far. He finished the season with 53 catches for 540 yards and four touchdowns.

Comeback in 2009

Before the 2009 season, Johnson worked to make up with Bengals fans. He made public appearances and invited fans to dinner and movie nights. He paid for these events himself.

Ochocinco (left) and Terrell Owens before a game against the New England Patriots on September 12, 2010.

Johnson had his seventh season with over 1,000 receiving yards. He caught 72 passes for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns. He was just 48 yards short of 10,000 career receiving yards. He was also chosen for his sixth Pro Bowl.

Final Bengals Season in 2010

Johnson started the 2010 season with 12 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown. He tied the Bengals' record for touchdown catches. He also became the sixth player in NFL history to get 10,000 receiving yards with one team. The next week, he reached 700 career receptions.

Playing for the New England Patriots

Ochocinco practicing with the Patriots shortly after being traded to them.

On July 28, 2011, the New England Patriots got Johnson in a trade. He signed a three-year contract for $6.35 million. The Patriots gave up two draft picks for him.

Johnson had the least productive season of his career with the Patriots. He caught 15 passes for 276 yards and one touchdown. He played in his first Super Bowl, catching one pass for 21 yards. This was the Patriots' longest pass completion in that Super Bowl. The Patriots lost to the New York Giants 21–17.

On June 7, 2012, the Patriots released Johnson.

Time with the Miami Dolphins

Johnson, who grew up in Miami, signed with the Miami Dolphins on June 11, 2012.

On July 24, Johnson legally changed his last name back to Johnson from Ochocinco.

The Dolphins released Johnson on August 12.

Playing in Canada and Mexico

Johnson signed a two-year deal with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League on April 17, 2014. He played in five regular season games in 2014. He caught seven passes for 151 yards and scored one touchdown. Johnson was suspended by the Alouettes in 2015 for not reporting to training camp.

In March 2017, Johnson played one game for the Fundidores de Monterrey in Mexico. On April 2, 2017, he caught three passes, including a 41-yard touchdown, helping Monterrey win 14–6.

After His Playing Career

In March 2016, Johnson offered to work with the Cleveland Browns receivers as a guest instructor. The Browns coach, Hue Jackson, agreed. Jackson said Johnson wanted to "try his hand" at coaching.

He is now a panelist on the weekly highlight show Inside the NFL. He also co-hosts the podcast Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe. In December 2024, he was a "ratings adjuster" for the EA Sports Madden broadcast of an NFL game.

Career Statistics

NFL Career Stats

Playoff Statistics

CFL Career Stats

Awards and Highlights

• AFC champion (2011)
• 6× Pro Bowl selection (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009)
• 4× All-Pro selection (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
• NFL receiving yards leader (2006)
• 10,000 receiving yards club

Bengals Team Records

• Most career receptions (751)
• Most career receiving yards (10,783)
• Most career receiving touchdowns (66)
• Most career yards from scrimmage (10,958)
• Most career All-Purpose Yds (10,964)
• Most career games with 100+ receiving yards (31)
• Most career games with 1+ touchdown (50)
• Most career 1000+ receiving yard seasons (7)

Soccer Career

Due to the 2011 NFL Lockout, Ochocinco tried out for Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer in March 2011. He played soccer when he was younger and loves the sport. He was not offered a contract but could train with the team.

In 2018, Johnson returned to soccer. He signed with National Premier Soccer League team Boca Raton FC. He played as a forward. He scored his first goal for the club on October 20, 2018.

In March 2019, Johnson re-signed with Boca Raton FC. He scored two goals in a win in May 2019. Boca Raton FC won the South Florida Championship that season.

Johnson was an analyst for Fox Sports during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In 2023, he played in The Soccer Tournament for Nati SC.

Other Activities

Commercials and TV Shows

Ochocinco was in a national pistachio commercial in 2010 and 2011. He also appeared in R&B singer Monica's music video "Everything to Me".

Chad Ochocinco voiced himself in an episode of Squidbillies. He is also on the cover of EA's 2006 video game NFL Street 3. He helps narrate the tutorials in the game.

Johnson appeared in a PETA ad campaign. He also appeared with his mother on the reality show "Marriage Bootcamp Reality Stars: Family Edition."

Boxing and MMA

On May 3, 2021, Johnson had an exhibition boxing match against Brian Maxwell. The fight lasted four two-minute rounds. No winner was declared since it was an exhibition.

In October 2024, Johnson announced he would fight former Pittsburgh Steelers star James Harrison. This will be an exhibition mixed martial arts fight in February 2025.

Wideout Workshop

From July 7-9, 2025, Johnson hosted the first annual Wideout Workshop. This event allowed receivers to work with Johnson to improve their skills. Many famous players attended, including Tyreek Hill and Ja'Marr Chase.

Smartphone Apps

An iPhone game called Mad Chad was created by Johnson and RockLive. It was released on November 18, 2010. It was a popular app on iTunes.

Dancing with the Stars

On March 1, 2010, it was announced that Johnson would be on Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with dancer Cheryl Burke. He was eliminated on May 18, 2010, as one of the final four.

TV Shows and Podcasts

Johnson had his own segment on Sports Soup called "Child, Please".

During the 2010-2011 NFL season, he and teammate Terrell Owens had a talk show. It was called The T. Ocho Show on Versus. They talked about football, basketball, and pop culture.

In 2010, Johnson had his own reality television dating show. It was called Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch on VH1.

WWE and Bull Riding

Ochocinco was a guest host on WWE Raw on September 13, 2010.

In May 2011, Ochocinco tried to ride a bull at a PBR event. He rode the bull Deja Blue for 1.5 seconds.

Acting Roles

In June 2011, Ochocinco filmed a small role as himself in the 2012 movie American Reunion. He also appeared as a former captain on the TV show Blue Mountain State. He was also featured as himself on The League and The Game.

Personal Life

Ochocinco is known for being careful with his money. For his first two years with the Bengals, he lived at the team's facility. He used the amenities the team provided. In 2023, he became famous on Shannon Sharpe's podcast for choosing Spirit Airlines over private jets. He also wore jewelry from Claire's and used McDonald's for first dates.

Johnson has six children. His son, Chad Jr., is a wide receiver at Arizona State University. His cousin, Brandon Johnson, plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Johnson got engaged in January 2023. He and his fiancé have a daughter born in January 2022.

Johnson enjoys other sports besides football. In 2007, he raced a Thoroughbred racehorse for charity. He is also a fan of the Napoli soccer team. He often shows support for soccer teams on Twitter. In 2015, he had a fun exchange with the Buffalo Sabres hockey team on Twitter. This was about a goalie named Chad Johnson.

Johnson loves playing the FIFA video game series. He often calls himself "FIFA king." He sometimes accepts challenges from fans on Twitter and even plays them at their homes.

Name Changes

Johnson and Bart Scott exchanging pleasantries after a game in 2006.

On October 25, 2006, Johnson announced he wanted to be called "Ocho Cinco." This means "eight five" in Spanish, matching his jersey number "85." During warm-ups for a game, his jersey said "Ocho Cinco." But quarterback Carson Palmer ripped it off to show "C. Johnson." Johnson was fined $5,000 for this.

Johnson legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ochocinco on August 29, 2008. He wore "OCHOCINCO" on his jersey from 2009 to 2011. He wanted it to say "OCHO CINCO," but the NFL only allowed his legal name.

In 2009, Ochocinco said he would change his name to "Hachi Go" in 2010. "Hachi Go" means 8 and 5 in Japanese. But he did not go through with this name change.

On July 23, 2012, after moving to the Miami Dolphins, he legally changed his name back to Chad Johnson. He said he wanted to "reconnect with his former self."

Marriage and Personal Life

On November 16, 2010, Ochocinco got engaged to reality TV star Evelyn Lozada. They had been dating since earlier that year.

Johnson and Lozada got married on July 4, 2012. The day before the wedding, Johnson invited a fan who had lost her husband to the wedding. He paid for her trip.

On August 11, 2012, Johnson was arrested. He was released by the Miami Dolphins soon after. Lozada filed for divorce three days later. The divorce was finalized on September 19, 2012.

See also

In Spanish: Chad Ochocinco para niños