Anthony Johnson Jr. Bio
Anthony Christopher Johnson Jr. is an American professional football safety born on December 2, 1999, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones, where he developed into a key contributor on defense and earned notable recognition, including a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022. Johnson entered the National Football League after being selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He later joined the New York Giants, where he has continued his professional career as a defensive back and special teams contributor.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Christopher Johnson Jr. grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he attended St. Petersburg High School. As a young athlete in a city with a strong football culture, he developed his skills as a defensive back while competing for the Green Devils. His size, speed, and coverage instincts drew the attention of college scouts during his prep career.
Johnson was rated a three-star recruit coming out of high school. He ultimately chose to play college football at Iowa State over an offer from South Florida, a decision that shaped his path toward a defensive back role in a Power Five conference. His commitment to the Cyclones provided an opportunity to compete at the Big 12 level and to refine the technique and football IQ that would later help him reach the NFL.
Path to American Football
Johnson’s path to professional football began with his development as a cornerback at Iowa State. He became a starter during his freshman year, an unusually early promotion that signaled the coaching staff’s confidence in his ability to handle major conference competition. Over his first four seasons in the program, he gained valuable experience on the boundary and showed the kind of tackling and coverage skills that would later translate to safety at the next level.
As a senior, Johnson was named honorable mention All-Big 12 after recording 55 tackles with three tackles for loss, four passes broken up, and two forced fumbles. He then used the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to Iowa State for a fifth season. That final year proved decisive, as the coaching staff moved him to safety, a position that better suited his physical tools and field vision.
Anthony Johnson Jr. Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Johnson’s early college career was defined by steady growth at cornerback. After stepping into a starting role as a freshman, he continued to handle increased responsibility each season, building a reputation as a reliable, physical defender. His development culminated during his senior campaign, when his 55 tackles and two forced fumbles earned him honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition.
When Johnson returned for a fifth season in 2022, the Iowa State staff shifted him to safety. The transition paid off immediately, as he finished the year with 60 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes broken up on his way to second-team All-Big 12 honors. That production helped establish him as a draftable prospect ahead of the 2023 NFL cycle.
Green Bay Packers Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Johnson was selected in the seventh round, 242nd overall, by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft. The pick had originally belonged to the Jacksonville Jaguars but was traded to Green Bay in August 2022 for offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen. Johnson signed his rookie contract on May 5, 2023, and made his NFL preseason debut on August 11, 2023, in a 36–19 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing with five total tackles. He went on to record nine total tackles across three preseason games.
Johnson did not make his regular season debut until Week 7 in a 17–19 loss against the Denver Broncos, where he played 15 snaps, 11 of them on special teams. His first career start came in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams, covering for injured safety Rudy Ford. In that game, a pass intended for Cooper Kupp was tipped by Jaire Alexander, allowing Johnson to intercept the ball. He finished the contest with two pass deflections, one tackle, and one interception, playing every defensive snap in a 20–3 win. His best performance of the year came on Thanksgiving Day in Week 12, when he posted eight total tackles and one pass deflection in a 29–22 win over the NFC North rival Detroit Lions.
Johnson remained on the Packers roster through the entire 2024 preseason, but was released by the team on cutdown day, August 27, 2024.
New York Giants Era (2024–Present)
After being cut by the Packers, Johnson was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants on August 28, 2024. He was active for nine games during the 2024 season, working primarily as a special teams player. Over the year, he recorded 21 defensive snaps, all of which came in the final two games of the season.
On July 22, 2025, Johnson was waived by the Giants after a failed physical. After clearing waivers, he reverted to the Giants’ reserve/PUP list on July 23, 2025, as the team worked through his status heading into the new season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he began his career as a cornerback, Johnson’s transition to safety highlighted his strengths as a downhill, physical defender with strong open-field tackling and reliable open-field tackling ability. His coverage instincts, developed during his first four college seasons, allow him to read quarterbacks and break on the ball, as shown by his first career interception with the Packers. As a professional, he has built his role through consistent work on special teams, where his technique and effort have given him a path to remain on an NFL roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s signature NFL moment came in his first career start against the Los Angeles Rams, when he recorded his first interception and helped the Packers to a 20–3 win. He also posted his strongest statistical performance on Thanksgiving Day 2023, finishing with eight total tackles against the Detroit Lions. His transition from cornerback to safety at Iowa State in 2022, paired with a second-team All-Big 12 selection, marked the turning point that took him from a late-round prospect to an NFL contributor.
Anthony Johnson Jr. Career Wins
Anthony Christopher Johnson Jr.’s career as a professional football safety began in 2023, when he was selected by the Green Bay Packers. While he has not posted a large number of individual statistical milestones, he has been part of winning efforts at both the college and professional level, including a 20–3 win over the Los Angeles Rams and a 29–22 win over the Detroit Lions during his rookie season.
Green Bay Packers Highlights
Johnson appeared in limited regular-season action for Green Bay during the 2023 season, but he made the most of his opportunities. His first career start, which produced his first career interception, stands as the most memorable moment of his time with the Packers. He closed his rookie year on a strong note with his best statistical performance against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
New York Giants Highlights
With the New York Giants, Johnson’s most significant role has come on special teams. He was active for nine games during the 2024 season, and his late-season defensive snaps in the final two games marked an expanded role that pointed to future opportunity before his placement on the reserve/PUP list in 2025.
Anthony Johnson Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Anthony Christopher Johnson Jr. grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, and attended St. Petersburg High School, where he built the foundation of his football career. Public information about his immediate family is limited.
Personal Life
Johnson’s personal life has been kept largely private, with limited public details available beyond his commitment to football and his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Anthony Christopher Johnson Jr.’s 2025 outlook was complicated in late July, when he was waived by the New York Giants after a failed physical on July 22, 2025. He cleared waivers the following day and reverted to the Giants’ reserve/PUP list on July 23, a designation that signals a return from injury rather than a release from the organization. The move left his path to the active roster tied to his recovery and the team’s evaluation of his health heading into the regular season.
Johnson’s 2024 work in New York, where he was active for nine games and handled a key role on special teams, gave the Giants a clear baseline for what he brings to the roster. The expanded defensive snaps he logged in the final two games of 2024 suggested the staff was preparing a larger role for him before the injury.
His progress through the reserve/PUP list will be the central storyline for Johnson’s 2025 season. If he returns healthy, his combination of cornerback experience, safety instincts, and special teams reliability gives him a credible opportunity to reclaim a depth role in the Giants’ secondary.