Teyo Johnson facts for kids

Teyo Johnson, born on November 29, 1981, is a former professional football player from Canada. He played as a tight end in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Oakland Raiders chose him in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. Before turning pro, he played college football for the Stanford Cardinal team.

Teyo also played for several other teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills in the NFL. He also played for the Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europa, the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL, and the Sacramento Mountain Lions in the United Football League.

Early Life and High School Football

Teyo Johnson grew up in Lynnwood, Washington. He went to Mariner High School in Everett. For his senior year, he moved to Mira Mesa Senior High School in San Diego, California. He moved with his friend Amon Gordon, who also became an NFL player.

College Sports Career

Teyo Johnson was a very talented athlete in high school. Many colleges wanted him to play two sports for them. He chose to go to Stanford University.

Playing Football at Stanford

When he first joined Stanford, Teyo wanted to play as a quarterback. However, there were many other quarterbacks, so the coaches decided to move him to wide receiver. This way, his amazing talent could be used on the field.

In 2001, Teyo was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year as a wide receiver. He caught 79 passes for 1,032 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in 22 games. After his second year, a new coach wanted to change his position again, this time from wide receiver to tight end. Teyo decided to leave college early and enter the NFL draft instead.

Playing Basketball at Stanford

Besides football, Teyo also played basketball for Stanford for two years. He played as a forward on the team. Some of his teammates later became famous NBA players, like Josh Childress, Casey Jacobsen, Jason Collins, and Jarron Collins.

Professional Football Journey

Teyo Johnson had a long career playing for many different professional football teams.

Oakland Raiders (2003–2004)

The Oakland Raiders picked Teyo Johnson as the 63rd player in the 2003 NFL draft. In his first year as a professional, he changed positions again, becoming a tight end. He played in all 16 games that season. He caught 14 passes for 128 yards and scored 1 touchdown.

In his second season, he played in only 8 games. He caught 9 passes for 131 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. The Raiders released him in September 2005.

Arizona Cardinals (2005)

Soon after, on September 13, 2005, the Arizona Cardinals signed Teyo. He played in 6 games for them, catching 3 passes for 29 yards. He was released by the Cardinals in November 2005.

Miami Dolphins (2006)

Teyo signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins in January 2006. He was released by the team in September 2006.

Denver Broncos (2007)

In January 2007, Teyo signed with the Denver Broncos. That year, he was sent to play for the Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europa. He played in 10 games for the Sea Devils, starting four of them. He caught 23 passes for 279 yards and scored three touchdowns. He was later released by the Broncos in August 2007.

Buffalo Bills (2008)

Teyo signed with the Buffalo Bills in January 2008. He was released by the team in June 2008.

Calgary Stampeders (2008–2009)

In 2008, Teyo played for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. He played in 13 games and started nine. He caught 15 passes for 248 yards and scored two touchdowns. The Stampeders won the 96th Grey Cup championship that season!

In 2009, he played in 16 games for the Stampeders, starting nine. He caught 18 passes for 172 yards and scored two more touchdowns.

Sacramento Mountain Lions (2010)

In 2010, Teyo played one game for the Sacramento Mountain Lions in the United Football League.

Family Life

Teyo Johnson has two older brothers, Ahmani Johnson and Riall Johnson. Both of his brothers also played professional football in the NFL and CFL.