Trumaine Johnson (cornerback) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Trumaine Johnson

Johnson with the St. Louis Rams in 2016
No. 22
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1990-01-01) January 1, 1990 (age 35) Stockton, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:	Edison (Stockton)
College:	Montana (2008–2011)
NFL Draft:	2012 / Round: 3 / Pick: 65
Career history
St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams (2012–2017) New York Jets (2018–2019) Carolina Panthers (2020)*
Career highlights and awards
2× FCS All-American (2010, 2011) First-team All-Big Sky (2010)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 393 Pass deflections: 74 Interceptions: 23 Forced fumbles: 3 Fumble recoveries: 4 Defensive touchdowns: 4
Player stats at PFR

Trumaine Monte Johnson (born January 1, 1990) is an American former professional football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). Trumaine played college football for the Montana Grizzlies. The St. Louis Rams picked him in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Early Life and High School Football

Trumaine Johnson grew up in Stockton, California. He went to Edison High School. There, he played football as a wide receiver.

College Football Career

In 2008, Trumaine started playing college football for the University of Montana. He was a starter at cornerback as a new student, which is quite rare. He played in 13 out of 14 games. During this time, he made 54 tackles, 12 assists, and 2 interceptions. He also caused a fumble and had a sack.

In 2009, Trumaine led his team with five interceptions and 12 pass deflections. He missed four games due to an injury. He was ranked first in the league for pass deflections per game. He was also second for interceptions per game.

In 2010, he was chosen for the First-team All-Big Sky. He tied for the team lead with four interceptions. In 2011, Trumaine started the first 11 games. He got injured and missed the last five games. He was second on his team with four interceptions. He even returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns!

Becoming a Professional Player

Getting Ready for the NFL Draft

Before the NFL Draft, experts thought Trumaine would be picked in the second round. He was invited to the NFL Combine. This is where players show off their skills to NFL teams. He did all the drills, like running and jumping.

On March 9, 2012, Trumaine showed his skills at Montana's pro day. NFL analyst Mike Mayock ranked him as the fifth best cornerback. NFLDraftScout.com ranked him eighth.

Playing for the St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams

Starting His NFL Journey (2012)

The St. Louis Rams picked Trumaine Johnson in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was the 65th player chosen overall. He signed a four-year contract worth about $3.04 million.

Trumaine became the Rams' third cornerback. He played his first professional game against the Detroit Lions. On September 30, he made his first career interception. He picked off a pass from Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks. He finished his first year with 31 tackles and two interceptions.

Growing as a Player (2013)

In 2013, Trumaine continued as the Rams' third cornerback. In the first game, he intercepted a pass from Carson Palmer. On October 20, he made a season-high nine tackles. In Week 10, he intercepted Andrew Luck. On December 15, he picked off Drew Brees. He ended the season with 68 tackles and three interceptions.

Overcoming Injuries (2014)

Trumaine was set to be a starting cornerback in 2014. He got a knee injury during a preseason game. This injury kept him out for the first seven games. On November 16, he intercepted a pass from Peyton Manning. This helped the Rams win against the Denver Broncos.

In Week 13, Trumaine had an amazing game. He made two interceptions and scored a touchdown! He picked off passes from both Derek Carr and Matt Schaub. He returned one for a 43-yard touchdown. This was his first game with multiple interceptions. He finished the season with 36 tackles, three interceptions, and one touchdown.

A Standout Season (2015)

In 2015, Trumaine was a starting cornerback for the Rams. In the first game, he intercepted Russell Wilson. He had to leave the game early due to a thigh injury. This injury sidelined him for two weeks.

On December 27, he intercepted another pass from Russell Wilson. This was his third game in a row with an interception. He finished the 2015 season with a career-high 71 tackles. He also had 17 pass deflections and seven interceptions! Experts at Pro Football Focus ranked him among the top 25 cornerbacks.

Franchise Tag Years (2016-2017)

In 2016, the Rams kept Trumaine by using a "franchise tag." This meant he stayed with the team for one more year. In Week 4, he had six pass breakups and an interception. He got an ankle injury in October. This injury made him miss two games. He finished 2016 with 57 tackles and one interception.

In 2017, the Rams used the franchise tag on him again. In the first game, he had a great performance. He made two tackles, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a pass. He even returned the interception for a 29-yard touchdown! This earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He finished 2017 with 65 tackles and two interceptions.

Moving to the New York Jets

On March 16, 2018, Trumaine signed a five-year contract with the New York Jets. He started 10 games in 2018. He recorded 40 tackles and four interceptions.

In 2019, he played in seven games. He had 25 tackles and one interception. On November 5, 2019, he was placed on injured reserve because of an ankle injury. The Jets released him on March 18, 2020.

Brief Time with the Carolina Panthers

On September 19, 2020, Trumaine was signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad. However, he was released just six days later.

NFL Career Statistics

Personal Life

In December 2011, Trumaine Johnson had an incident where he was charged with disorderly conduct. In May 2013, he was involved in a driving incident.