David Johnson, who amassed 6,876 yards from scrimmage and 58 touchdowns in eight seasons, introduced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday.
Johnson, who final performed in a regular-season recreation in 2022, for the New Orleans Saints, made the announcement on Instagram.
“I am wanting ahead to my subsequent profession path in life,” he wrote in his publish. “I do not know precisely what that will probably be, however I hope it’ll convey me the identical ardour, pleasure, and love as soccer did!”
The Arizona Cardinals chosen Johnson out of Northern Iowa within the third spherical of the 2015 draft. Two video games into his professional profession, his jersey and cleats had been despatched to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in Canton, Ohio, after he turned the primary participant in NFL historical past to attain a speeding landing, receiving landing and kickoff return landing throughout the first two video games of a profession.
“I’m blessed and really appreciative of the Cardinals drafting me within the third spherical and I began my NFL profession hitting the bottom operating (actually)! 2 video games in, getting my uniform and cleats put within the Professional soccer Corridor of Fame in Canton,” he wrote in his publish.
In his second season, Johnson led the NFL in each yards from scrimmage (2,118) and whole touchdowns (20) en path to being chosen first crew All-Professional and incomes the one Professional Bowl collection of his profession. Johnson ran for 1,239 yards that season, the one time he surpassed 1,000 speeding yards in his profession.
Johnson, 32, performed 5 seasons for the Cardinals earlier than he was traded to the Houston Texans in 2020 in a deal that despatched extensive receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona. He performed two seasons in Houston earlier than showing in 5 video games for the Saints in 2022.
He completed his profession with 4,071 yards speeding and a couple of,805 yards receiving. Of his 58 touchdowns, 39 got here speeding, 18 receiving and one on a kickoff return. He had 33 speeding touchdowns with the Cardinals, tied for third in franchise historical past.
“When it is all mentioned and completed, I actually hope I impacted a minimum of 1 particular person on and off the sector in a constructive approach,” he wrote. “I hope I used to be in a position to pay it ahead, from the numerous individuals who guided and taught me the best option to go about enterprise, and giving again with integrity and a humble demeanor!”
