Teyo Johnson facts for kids

Teyo Johnson (born 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 picked him in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal.

Johnson also played for several other teams. These included the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills in the NFL. He played for the Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europa. In the CFL, he was with the Calgary Stampeders. He also played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions in the United Football League.

Early Life and High School Years

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

College Sports Career

Teyo Johnson was a very talented athlete in high school. Many colleges wanted him because he was good at two sports. He went to Stanford University. He hoped to play quarterback in football. However, the coaches moved him to wide receiver so he could play more.

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

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

Professional Football Journey

Teyo Johnson played for several teams during his professional career. He started in the NFL and later played in other leagues.

Oakland Raiders Experience

The Oakland Raiders chose Teyo Johnson as the 63rd pick in the 2003 NFL draft. In his first year, he changed positions again to 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 thought his playing time was cut because he missed some team workouts. He had gone to China for an NFL tour. However, his coach said this was not the reason. Johnson caught 9 passes for 131 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. The Raiders released him in September 2005.

Arizona Cardinals Time

The Arizona Cardinals quickly signed Teyo Johnson in September 2005. He played in only 6 games for the Cardinals. He caught 3 passes for 29 yards. He was released by the team in November 2005.

Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos

Johnson signed with the Miami Dolphins in January 2006 but was released before the season started. He then signed with the Denver Broncos in January 2007. The Broncos sent him to NFL Europa. He played for the Hamburg Sea Devils in 2007. He played in 10 games and started four. He caught 23 passes for 279 yards and scored three touchdowns. He was later released by the Broncos in August 2007.

Buffalo Bills and Calgary Stampeders

Teyo Johnson signed with the Buffalo Bills in January 2008. However, he was released in June 2008.

He then joined the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. In 2008, 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 that year, which is a big championship in Canadian football. In 2009, he played in 16 games, starting nine. He caught 18 passes for 172 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Sacramento Mountain Lions

In 2010, Johnson played one game for the Sacramento Mountain Lions in the United Football League. He started that game but did not record any statistics.

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.