Michael Johnson (safety) facts for kids
Johnson in 2009
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| No. 43, 20, 45 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | May 9, 1984 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Pflugerville (Pflugerville, Texas) | ||||||||||
| College: | Arizona | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2007 / Round: 7 / Pick: 224 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Michael Johnson (born May 9, 1984) is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the NFL. Michael was drafted by the New York Giants in 2007. He also played for the Detroit Lions. A big highlight of his career was winning Super Bowl XLII with the Giants.
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College Football Journey
Michael Johnson started his college football career at Tyler Junior College. Later, he transferred to the University of Arizona. While playing for Arizona, he participated in 21 games. He started 14 of those games as a safety.
During his time at Arizona, Michael made 107 tackles. He also caught 5 interceptions, which means he caught the ball when the other team threw it. In 2006, he was recognized for his great play. He earned a spot on the All-Pac-10 2nd-team. This shows he was one of the best players in his conference.
Playing in the NFL
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2+5⁄8 in (1.90 m) |
205 lb (93 kg) |
32 in (0.81 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) |
4.53 s | 1.53 s | 2.61 s | 4.11 s | 7.04 s | 35.5 in (0.90 m) |
9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) |
18 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day | ||||||||||||
Michael Johnson was chosen by the New York Giants in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was the 224th player picked overall. This was a big step for him to play professional football.
Time with the New York Giants
When Michael joined the Giants, he wore jersey number 43. He was part of a special group of rookies that year. These players helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII. This is one of the biggest championships in American sports.
During the 2007 playoffs, Michael made a very important play. It was in the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers. A teammate fumbled the ball, and a Packers player almost recovered it. But Michael quickly jumped in and knocked the ball away. Another Giants player then recovered it. This play helped the Giants win the game in overtime. They then went on to win the Super Bowl!
In 2008, Michael changed his jersey number to 20. He became a starting player for the Giants that season. He played both free safety and strong safety. He finished the year with 88 tackles and two interceptions. He was a key part of the Giants' defense. After the 2010 season, Michael became a free agent. This meant he could sign with any team.
Short Time with the Detroit Lions
On August 10, 2011, Michael Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions. However, his time with the Lions was short. He was released from the team later that same month, on August 29, 2011.
Michael's Life Off the Field
Michael Johnson was born in Austin, Texas. He went to Pflugerville High School for his high school education. He comes from a family of football players. His older brother, Reggie Brown, also played in the NFL. Reggie was a linebacker for the Detroit Lions.
