Tank Johnson facts for kids
Johnson at Bengals training camp in 2010
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 7, 1981 Gary, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 315 lb (143 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Tempe (AZ) McClintock | ||||||||
| College: | Washington | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2004 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47 | ||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
Terry "Tank" Johnson (born December 7, 1981) is a former American football player. He was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals. The Bears chose him in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at the University of Washington.
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Growing Up: Tank Johnson's Early Life
Tank Johnson was born in Gary, Indiana. When he was six years old, his father moved him to Arizona. He went to McClintock High School in Tempe, Arizona. He was a good student, earning a B-plus average.
As a senior in high school, he caught 21 passes for 211 yards and scored 4 touchdowns. He also made 47 tackles, 3 sacks, and forced 3 fumbles. He was named All-city and All-region twice for his football skills.
Johnson was also a talented athlete in other sports. In basketball, he earned Pepperdine Prep All-American honors. In volleyball, he was recognized as All-state, All-region, and All-city.
College Football Journey at Washington
Johnson earned a football scholarship to the University of Washington. He was first recruited to play tight end. However, he was suspended as a freshman.
In his second year, he changed his position to defensive tackle. He played in 10 games as a backup, making 4 tackles. He missed one game because of a knee injury.
As a junior, he became a starter. He started 11 of 13 games at defensive tackle. He made 25 tackles, 5 sacks, and even scored a touchdown after catching an interception. His strong play helped his team's defense. They were one of the best in the nation at stopping running plays.
In his senior year, he started 12 games. He played both defensive tackle and defensive end. He led his team with 10 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble and recovered another, which he returned for a touchdown.
He finished his college career having started 23 out of 35 games. He made 64 tackles and 15 sacks.
Playing in the NFL: Tank Johnson's Pro Career
Chicago Bears: Starting His NFL Journey
The Chicago Bears picked Tank Johnson in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft. He was the 47th player chosen overall. In his first year, he played in all 16 games, starting one. He made 26 tackles.
In 2005, he played in all 16 games again, starting 4. He made 37 tackles and 5 sacks. He had a great game against the Baltimore Ravens, getting 8 tackles and 2 sacks. He was part of a very strong Bears defense that year.
In 2006, Johnson played even more. He started 10 games because a teammate was injured. The Bears had a great season and reached Super Bowl XLI. Johnson made 38 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He played in the Super Bowl, making 4 tackles and a half-sack.
Johnson faced some challenges outside of football during this time. He was suspended for eight games in 2007 for issues that went against the NFL player conduct policy.
Dallas Cowboys: A New Team
On September 18, 2007, the Dallas Cowboys signed Johnson. They needed help on their defense after a player got injured. Johnson had to miss the first eight games due to his suspension. He returned to play on November 11 against the New York Giants. In that game, he made three tackles and one sack.
He played a different position with the Cowboys, which was a bit of a change for him. He finished the season with 10 tackles and two sacks.
In 2008, he played as a backup. He dealt with a sprained ankle but still played in 16 games. He made 45 tackles and one sack. Even though he had no issues outside of football in Dallas, the Cowboys did not re-sign him.
Cincinnati Bengals: Final NFL Stop
On April 7, 2009, Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was able to play his natural defensive tackle position again. He started 13 games and made 29 tackles and two sacks.
On March 8, 2010, the Bengals signed Johnson to a new four-year deal. He started the first seven games of the season. However, he suffered a serious right knee injury on October 31 against the Miami Dolphins. This injury ended his season. He finished with 10 tackles in seven games.
On August 16, 2011, the Bengals ended his contract. He was replaced by a younger player.
Life After Football
After his professional football career, Tank Johnson went back to college. He attended Mesa Community College in Arizona. His goal was to finish his degree in sociology from the University of Washington.
He also started a program called 'Moving the Chains'. This program helps people who have been in trouble learn from their past mistakes. It helps them avoid negative influences in their lives. Johnson has said that he got into a lot of trouble even though he wasn't a bad person. He felt he was in situations that he couldn't control.
Images for kids
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Johnson at Bengals training camp in 2010
See also
- National Football League player conduct controversy
- Washington Huskies football statistical leaders
