NFL CAREER – Enters his seventh season with New Orleans following his most productive year to date, Johnson looks to again be a key piece of the passing game under second-year head coach and play-caller Kellen Moore. The former Penn State and Oregon wideout joined the Saints in 2020 following the NFL Draft and transitioned to tight end in his second season. In 2025, the New Jersey native had his most productive campaign as a pro, appearing in all 17 games with a career-high ten starts, finishing with career-highs in receptions (77) and receiving yards (889) to go with three touchdowns, ranked fifth in receptions and ranked third in receiving yards in the NFL among tight ends. Johnson surpassed the 2,000 yard mark in his career, making him only the fourth Saints tight end to reach that milestone. He also reached 21 career touchdown receptions for his career, tying Hoby Brenner for third all-time among Saints tight ends, and the 75-catch mark in a single season, joining Jimmy Graham as the second tight end in New Orleans' history to reach it. In six seasons with the Black and Gold, Johnson has played in 84 games with 44 starts and recorded 223 receptions for 2,511 yards with 21 touchdowns.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms on three-year contract extension, 3/11/25; Agreed to terms on two-year contract extension, 3/11/23; Activated from Reserve/COVID-19, 12/28/21; Placed on Reserve/COVID-19, 12/21/21; Signed to active roster, 12/19/20; Elevated to active roster (standard elevation), 12/12/20; Elevated to active roster (COVID-19 replacement), 12/5/20; Elevated to active roster (standard elevation), 10/31/20; Elevated to active roster (COVID-19 replacement), 10/24/20; Agreed to terms on a practice squad contract, 9/6/20; Waived, 9/5/20; Agreed to terms as an undrafted free agent, 4/27/20.
2025 – Played in all 17 games with ten starts, recording career-highs with 77 receptions for 889 yards to go with three touchdown grabs…Started and led the team in receiving, catching eight passes (tied a career-high and season-high) for 76 yards, vs. Arizona, Sept. 7…Vs. San Francisco, Sept. 14, started and finished with five grabs for 49 yards and one touchdown, his first of 2025…Started at Chicago, Oct. 19, recording five receptions for 79 yards (15.8 avg.)…At Los Angeles Rams, Nov. 2, finished with three receptions for 31 yards and his second touchdown of the season and the first scoring throw of former college teammate Tyler Shough's career… Finished with four receptions for 92 yards with a TD, including a career-long 52-yard reception, at Carolina, Nov. 9. Standout performance put him over the 2,000-yard mark for his career, making him only the fourth Saints tight end with over 2,000 career receiving yards. With his four receptions, has three seasons with 40 or more catches, tied for the third-most by a Saints tight end with Jeremy Shockey (2008-10). His touchdown put him at 21 career TD grabs, moving him into a tie for third in Saints history at the position with Hoby Brenner... Recorded five catches for 39 yards at Miami, Nov. 30, when he officially surpassed his previous season career-bests in receptions and receiving yards…Started vs. New York Jets, Dec. 21, finishing with eight receptions (tied season and career-high) for 89 yards. Had seven grabs for 82 yards in the first half alone, setting new career-bests in both categories in a single half in his career…Recorded four receptions for a career-high 95 yards (23.8 avg.) at Tennessee, Dec. 28… Started and finished with 61 yards (led all receivers) on just three catches, at Atlanta, 1/4/26. Those three grabs put him at 77 for the season, which made him only the second Saints TE with 75 receptions in a season, joining Graham. 2024 – Played in all 17 games with five starts, totaling 50 receptions for a team-leading 548 yards to go with three TDs…Caught two passes for 26 yards and a TD vs. Carolina, Sept. 8…Recorded three receptions for 48 yards vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 13…Posted three receptions for 48 yards at Los Angeles Chargers, Oct. 27…Added two grabs for 41 yards (20.5 avg.) at Carolina, Nov. 3…Caught three passes for 30 yards with a TD vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17…Recorded four receptions for 50 yards and a score at New York Giants, Dec. 8…Added six grabs for 66 yards vs. Las Vegas, Dec. 29… Caught six passes for a season-high 80 yards at Tampa Bay, 1/5/25. 2023 – Played in 13 games with 11 starts, hauling in 37 receptions for 359 yards and four TD grabs…Vs. Tennessee, Sept. 10, started, catching three passes for 36 yards…missed four games with a calf injury (Weeks Four-Seven)…Vs. Chicago, Nov. 5, started and finished with five receptions for 29 yards and a TD…Vs. New York Giants, Dec. 17, rotated in on offense and special teams. Finished with two receptions for 38 yards and a TD…At Los Angeles Rams, Dec. 21, started and played on special teams, finishing with four receptions for 48 yards and a TD…At Tampa Bay Dec. 31, started and played on special teams. Had a career day on offense, leading team in receiving with eight grabs for 90 yards and a TD, including a season-long 32-yard reception, third straight game with a TD…Vs. Atlanta, 1/7/24, started and saw action on special teams in 50th career NFL game. Finished with three catches for 40 yards. 2022 – Played in 16 games with 12 starts, finishing with 42 receptions for 508 yards and a team-best seven touchdown grabs, which was tied for third among NFL tight ends. Added one special teams tackle…At Atlanta, Sept. 11, recorded two catches for 43 yards (21.5 avg.)…Vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 18, recorded four catches for 40 yards…At Carolina, Sept. 25, started and played on special teams, recording a tackle…Vs. Minnesota (London), Oct. 2, played on offense and special teams and caught three passes for 33 yards…Vs. Seattle, Oct. 9, saw time on offense and special teams and had a 13-yard catch…Vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 16, started and played on special teams and caught four passes for 41 yards…At Arizona, Oct. 20, started and saw action on special teams and caught five passes for 32 yards and a career-best tying two TD grabs…Vs. Las Vegas, Oct. 30, started and played on special teams and had two receptions for 14 yards…Vs. Baltimore, Nov. 7, started and played on special teams and finished with two receptions for 42 yards, including a 41-yard scoring grab…At Pittsburgh, Nov. 13, started and played on special teams and finished with five receptions for 44 yards with a 15-yard TD…Vs. Los Angeles Rams, Nov. 20, started in three-tight end set and saw action on special teams and caught three passes for 47 yards with one TD to set a career-high for scoring grabs (team-best five)…Vs. Atlanta, Dec. 18, started and led team in receiving, hauling in four passes for a 67 yards with two TDs. The two scores marked his second multi-touchdown game of season and third of career…At Philadelphia, 1/1/23, started and finished with five receptions for 62 yards…In season finale vs. Carolina, 1/8/23, started and finished with 21-yard reception. 2021 – Played in 14 games with two starts and finished with 13 receptions for 159 yards with four TDs…In opener vs. Green Bay, Sept. 12 (played in Jacksonville, Fla. due to Hurricane Ida), caught three passes for 21 yards and recorded his first two NFL touchdowns, helping Saints defeat the Packers 38-3…At Carolina, Sept. 19, recorded a 23-yard reception…Vs. New York Giants, Oct. 3, had two receptions for 20 yards with a TD…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 31, made first career TE start…At Atlanta 1/9/22, caught a five-yard TD. 2020 – Post-draft free agent signing played in seven games with four starts in rookie campaign at wideout and finished with four receptions for 39 yards…Made NFL debut, starting and playing on special teams vs. Carolina, Oct. 25...At Chicago, Nov. 1, caught his first career reception, a five-yard grab from QB Drew Brees...Recorded key first-down pickup from Taysom Hill to bring the football to the Eagles 39-yard line on a 11-yard reception on TD drive at Philadelphia, Dec. 13…Contributed on offense and special teams and caught a pass for a 19-yard gain from Brees vs. Minnesota, Dec. 25.
COLLEGE - Played as a graduate transfer at Oregon in 2019 after playing at Penn State from 2016-18…In four college seasons, played in 47 games and recorded 111 receptions for 1,590 yards and six touchdowns…In 2019, played in the final ten games for the Ducks after missing the first four (calf) and recorded 30 receptions for 467 yards (15.6 avg.) and four TDs, finishing second on the team with eight grabs over 20 yards…As a Penn State junior in 2018, played in ten games and made seven starts, finishing with 25 catches for 352 yards and one TD…As a sophomore, started all 13 games and finished season ranked seventh in Big Ten in receptions (54) and receiving yards (701)…As redshirt freshman in 2016, appeared in all 14 games, primarily on special teams and ranked second on team with nine coverage stops, including eight on the kickoff return unit, one blocked punt and added two receptions for 70 yards…Graduated in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications
PERSONAL – Consensus four-star and top 200 prospect by multiple recruiting outlets and services at Glassboro (N.J.) HS…Rated as No. 115 overall prospect and the No. 12 wideout in the nation in the final 247Sports composite rating…Played in U.S. Army All-American Bowl and also advanced to Nike's "The Opening" Finals camp…Had 42 catches for 804 yards (19.1 avg.) with nine touchdowns and two rushing scores as senior and made 22 stops at defensive back...Also played basketball…Younger brother of former Saints defensive George Johnson, who played in the NFL from 2011-17, closing out his career with the Black and Gold in 2017…Played in the 2022, 2023 and 2026 Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournaments at Chateau Country Club in Kenner…Although Johnson missed the December 5, 2022 'My Cause My Cleats' matchup at Tampa Bay with injury, his cleats were painted to support Culture Aid NOLA, which provides fresh food with twice weekly distributions. The cleats were auctioned off with the proceeds to benefit the nonprofit…Interacted with fans at the 2023 New Orleans Saints Draft Crawfish Cook-off event, which benefited several Autism-related non-profits…In 2023 provided a perspective on his career pivot to tight end and teaching football skills in leading a clinic with a group of talented New Orleans-area female flag football stars…In November, 2023, he and wife, Chanen joined Take Paws Rescue to participate in a pet adoption event sponsored by Raising Cane's…In Winter, 2024, teamed up with Hill's Pet Nutrition and Greater Good Charities to help raise donations for Shelter Bowl 2024, which supported pets in need…In 2024 joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank to help prepare meals…In 2024 the Johnsons hosted a block party event in Glassboro for youth, featuring food trucks and field games…In 2024, held a cooking demonstration for local youth at the New Orleans School of Cooking…In 2024, teamed up with Rouses Markets to raise awareness about food insecurities in the community. Leading up to the 2024 "My Cause My Cleats" game, Johnson and Rouses Markets provided monthly post-practice meals to local high schools plus invited select student athletes to attend the December 1 game, for which he wore cleats providing support to Second Harvest Food Bank. As part of the initiative, he talked to the Warren Easton High School football team about the importance of having good character, nutrition and leadership on and off the field…In 2025, the Johnsons hosted a celebrity charity basketball game in Glassboro with the proceeds supporting St. Jude Research Hospital…The past two years, the Johnsons have hosted a 'Turkey Bowl' flag football game with athletes from the '18th Ward' nonprofit organization…In December appeared at the Sideline Pass Foundation charity/Christmas gift drop off event to meet with donating fans and thank them for their generosity…In January, Johnson and Head Athletic Trainer Shone Gipson hosted an Athletic Trainers of the Week banquet for Ochsner Andrews Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, which included a tour of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center…Rode in 2026 Krewe of Tucks Mardi Gras parade with several teammates…In February, "went undercover" at a local Rouse's Market, surprising shoppers with gift cards…To close out Heart Health Month in February, joined students at St. Mary's Dominican High School for hands-on CPR training to raise awareness for its importance…Voted by team's local media corps as the 2025 winner of the Jim Finks media cooperation award, for his insightfulness in fulfilling media obligations no matter the circumstance…In May participated in a video call with French media to educate them on the sport and the team in advance of the team's October 25 matchup in Paris against the Pittsburgh Steelers...Coordinated on-field football activities for military and their families from Keesler Air Force Base at a Military Appreciation Day presented by Community Coffee at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in June...Born on September 13, 1996 in Stratford, N.J.
