Fred Johnson Bio
Fred Johnson (born June 5, 1997) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Standing about 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing roughly 326 pounds, he has built a steady career as a versatile trench player after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Johnson earned a Super Bowl championship ring with the Eagles after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX.
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Johnson played college football for the Florida Gators from 2015 to 2018 before launching one of the more traveled journeyman careers among active NFL linemen. Over the years he has appeared for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Eagles, developing a reputation as a reliable swing tackle and depth piece on contending rosters.
Early Life and Background
Fred Johnson was born on June 5, 1997, in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he grew up and attended Royal Palm Beach High School. A late-blooming physical prospect on the offensive line, he drew attention from college scouts as a 3-star recruit. Coming out of high school, he held scholarship offers from Marshall, Miami, Nebraska, Purdue, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, in addition to his commitment to Florida.
Johnson’s path to collegiate football was marked by steady development rather than early stardom, and he used his time in high school to add the size and technique that would eventually earn him a starting role in the Southeastern Conference. His background in South Florida, a region known for producing NFL-caliber linemen, helped shape his identity as a physical run blocker.
Path to American Football
Johnson committed to the University of Florida over a wide group of Power Five programs, choosing the SEC as the stage to test himself against top competition. As a Gator, he transitioned between tackle and guard while earning his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences. He was also recognized for his work off the field, being named to the 2018 SEC Football Community Service Team for his volunteer efforts in Gainesville-area elementary and middle schools, Habitat for Humanity, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Across four college seasons from 2015 through 2018, Johnson appeared in 43 games and made 32 starts, with four starts at right tackle and 28 at right guard. He started 10 games at right guard as a junior and 13 games at right guard as a senior, showing enough positional flexibility to attract NFL interest despite not being invited to the league’s annual scouting combine as a top-tier prospect.
Fred Johnson Career
Early Career (2019)
Johnson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2019. He made the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster out of training camp, an early sign that his combination of size and positional flexibility had value. Pittsburgh waived him on October 11, 2019, opening the door for his next opportunity.
Just three days later, on October 14, 2019, the Cincinnati Bengals claimed him off waivers. Johnson settled into a depth role on the Bengals offensive line, learning the professional game while rotating between tackle and guard positions as injuries required.
Cincinnati Bengals Tenure (2019-2022)
Johnson spent the bulk of his early professional development with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he continued to refine his craft as a swing lineman. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 6, 2020, and activated 14 days later on November 20. His perseverance through that unusual period reflected his standing within the Bengals organization as a trusted reserve.
On March 14, 2022, the Bengals placed a restricted free agent tender on Johnson. He signed the tender on March 22, 2022, but was released the same day, concluding a nearly three-year stay in Cincinnati. That transaction opened the door for his first move into a championship-level locker room.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stint (2022)
On April 4, 2022, Johnson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. He appeared in early-season games for Tampa Bay before being waived on November 1, 2022. The short stay reflected the volatility of backup roles in the NFL, where roster turnover is constant.
Philadelphia Eagles First Stint (2022-2025)
Johnson signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on November 8, 2022, joining a roster that would advance to Super Bowl LVII, where the Eagles fell to the Kansas City Chiefs. On February 15, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract with Philadelphia and went on to win the backup tackle role in training camp, eventually signing a two-year contract with the team.
During the 2023 regular season finale against the New York Giants, Johnson played as the Eagles rested their starters for the playoffs. In Week 3 of the 2024 season, he and Tyler Steen stepped in for the second half of a 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints after starter Lane Johnson and right guard Mekhi Becton both left with injuries, paving the way for two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns by Saquon Barkley. He played again in the 2024 regular-season finale against the Giants, this time helping Philadelphia close with a franchise-tying 14 wins. Johnson capped the run by winning Super Bowl LIX, a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs that secured his place as a champion.
Jacksonville Jaguars and Eagles Return (2025)
On March 19, 2025, Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, briefly stepping into a new offensive line room. On August 25, 2025, the Jaguars traded him back to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2026 seventh-round pick, reuniting him with the team where he had enjoyed his greatest team success.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnson is best described as a physical, position-flexible offensive lineman whose strengths show up most clearly in run-blocking situations. His experience at both guard and tackle allows him to step in across the line of scrimmage when injuries arise, and his familiarity with zone and gap schemes in Cincinnati and Philadelphia has made him a steady swing option for coaching staffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s most defining milestone is his Super Bowl LIX championship with the Philadelphia Eagles, earned as part of the dominant 2024 roster. He also played a quiet but important role in the Week 3, 2024 win over the New Orleans Saints, when his second-half relief helped clear the way for two Saquon Barkley rushing touchdowns that decided a tight game.
Fred Johnson Career Wins
Fred Johnson’s most prominent team accomplishment is a Super Bowl LIX championship earned with the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2024 NFL season. Across his stops in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Philadelphia, he has functioned primarily as a depth lineman, with career regular-season wins distributed across those franchises.
Other Wins and Performances
Johnson was part of the 2024 Eagles squad that finished the regular season with a franchise-tying 14 wins, including a regular-season finale victory over the New York Giants in which he played extended snaps. His relief appearance in the Week 3, 2024 win over the New Orleans Saints stands as one of his more visible on-field contributions of that championship season.
Fred Johnson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public biographical details about Fred Johnson’s parents and siblings are not clearly established in verified sources. He grew up in the West Palm Beach area of Florida, a region known for producing NFL linemen, and attended Royal Palm Beach High School before moving on to the University of Florida.
Personal Life
Fred Johnson is active on social media, where he is known by handles including @freddadon74 on X and @fredo_kruegerlxv on Instagram. Verified public information about a spouse or children is not currently available.
2025 Season Performance
Fred Johnson opened 2025 by signing a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 19, joining a rebuilding offensive line room in Jacksonville. His time there proved brief, as the Jaguars traded him back to the Philadelphia Eagles on August 25, 2025, for a 2026 seventh-round pick, restoring him to the championship setting in which he had thrived.
Returning to Philadelphia places Johnson back in a familiar scheme and alongside the veteran coaching staff he helped deliver a Super Bowl the previous February. With Lane Johnson and the Eagles’ starting offensive line back at full strength, his role projects once again as a versatile swing tackle and insurance policy along the front five.
Looking at the broader 2025 picture, Johnson’s value is tied less to headline statistics and more to durability and readiness on a contender. For a player who has already won a Super Bowl and played meaningful snaps in a 14-win regular season, the goal in 2025 is straightforward: stay prepared, contribute when called upon, and help Philadelphia make another deep postseason run.