Jakob Johnson Bio
Jakob Elijah Johnson (born 15 December 1994) is a German-American professional football fullback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). A product of the league’s International Player Pathway Program, he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots in 2019. After spending time with the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Giants, Johnson signed with the Houston Texans in March 2025.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 255 pounds, Johnson is known primarily for his work as a blocking fullback and on special teams coverage units. He has appeared in regular season games for four NFL franchises and became the first International Player Pathway participant to score an NFL touchdown.
Early Life and Background
Jakob Elijah Johnson was born on 15 December 1994 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He was born Jakob Weinmann to an African-American father serving in the U.S. military and a German mother, and he later took on his father’s surname, Johnson, following his parents’ separation. Growing up in Stuttgart, he was raised in a bilingual and bicultural household, which shaped his identity as both German and American.
In 2013, Johnson graduated from the technical Gymnasium Max-Eyth-Schule in Stuttgart, completing the German Abitur. During his youth, he played for the Stuttgart Scorpions at the U19 level, where he developed an early passion for the sport. In his senior year of high school, he relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, to live with his father and finish his secondary education in the United States.
After transferring schools in Florida, Johnson attended Jean Ribault High School, where he became a four-star recruit. His performance earned him a scholarship to play linebacker at the University of Tennessee, where he joined the Southeastern Conference and majored in kinesiology. He was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for three consecutive seasons and is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Path to American Football
Johnson’s path to the NFL began in earnest when he graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2018 and returned to Germany to play a season for the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League. In 12 games with the Scorpions, he recorded 43 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing 10 times for 46 yards. Although the Scorpions finished with a 4–12 record, his play caught the attention of scouts evaluating international talent.
He was then selected for the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, which is designed to give elite athletes from outside the United States an opportunity to earn a roster spot. The program eventually assigned him to the New England Patriots, who signed him as an undrafted free agent on 8 April 2019. Johnson became the first German-born offensive player to score a touchdown in an NFL game and only the second German player overall to reach the end zone.
Jakob Johnson Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
After completing his college career, Johnson returned to Stuttgart to play for the Scorpions in 2018, balancing the offense as both a receiver and a runner. His production helped him secure a place in the International Player Pathway Program for the 2019 cycle, where he was assigned to the New England Patriots.
Johnson signed with New England in April 2019 but was released during final roster cuts in August. He cleared waivers and joined the Patriots’ practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on 21 September 2019 following an injury to starting fullback James Develin. In four games that season, he caught one pass for five yards and logged 94 total snaps. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve in October with a shoulder injury.
New England Patriots Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Johnson returned healthy for the 2020 season and made the Patriots’ 53-man roster out of training camp, becoming the second International Pathway player to do so. In Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cam Newton, becoming the first International Player Pathway participant ever to score an NFL touchdown. He played in all 16 games and started 11, becoming a key special teams contributor and a reliable blocker in short-yardage situations.
In 2021, Johnson re-signed with New England on a one-year contract and appeared in all 17 regular season games, starting six. He also started the Patriots’ AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. By the end of his New England tenure, he had firmly established himself as a serviceable fullback and core special teams player.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2022–2023)
On 17 March 2022, Johnson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent. In his first season with the Raiders, he appeared in all 17 games and started nine, contributing on offense and special teams as the team relied on his physicality in the run game.
He signed a one-year contract extension on 15 March 2023, appeared in 13 games with five starts during the 2023 season, and split his snaps between offense and special teams. He was released on 17 November 2023 and shuffled between the practice squad and the active roster before the end of the year.
Houston Texans Era (2025–Present)
On 18 March 2025, Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans, carrying a base salary of $1.04 million, expandable to $1.17 million with bonuses. He was released during final roster cuts on 26 August and re-signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the active roster for the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. In Week 2, he recorded a blocked punt while playing on special teams before being signed to the active roster on 20 September.
A hamstring injury suffered in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars landed him on injured reserve on 26 September, and he was activated on 15 November ahead of a Week 11 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. He was waived on 8 December and re-signed to the practice squad two days later, finishing the season as one of the more experienced special teams presences on the Houston roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Johnson is recognized for his physicality as a lead blocker in the run game and his reliability in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He has earned a reputation for his work on special teams, particularly as a punt blocker, demonstrated by his blocked punt for the Texans in 2025. Coaches have valued his football IQ, toughness, and his willingness to embrace a role that emphasizes blocking over touches.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s most significant career milestone came on 20 September 2020, when he became the first International Player Pathway participant to score an NFL touchdown and the first German-born offensive player to reach the end zone in the league. In 2025, he added a blocked punt against the Rams to his list of signature special teams plays. He is also a co-owner of the Stuttgart Surge of the European League of Football, an investment he announced publicly in February 2022.
Jakob Johnson Career Wins
Jakob Johnson has built his career as a blocking fullback and special teams contributor rather than a traditional stats leader, so his impact is best measured in team accomplishments and milestone firsts. He has been part of playoff teams in New England and has played in more than 50 regular season NFL games across four franchises.
Team Highlights
Johnson started the Patriots’ AFC Wild Card game in January 2022, giving him his first postseason action. With the Las Vegas Raiders, he appeared in every regular season game in 2022 and earned a one-year contract extension in March 2023, reflecting the organization’s confidence in his role. With the Houston Texans in 2025, he made the active roster during the regular season and contributed on special teams units.
Other Wins and Performances
Before entering the NFL, Johnson had a productive 2018 season with the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League, finishing with 43 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. His performance that year helped him earn a spot in the International Player Pathway Program, which launched his professional career in the United States.
Jakob Johnson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Johnson was born to an African-American father stationed in Germany and a German mother, giving him a dual German-American background. He was born Jakob Weinmann and later took on his father’s surname, Johnson, after his parents separated. His father introduced him to American football during his time in the U.S. military, and the family eventually supported his relocation to Jacksonville, Florida, to finish high school and pursue the sport at a higher level.
Personal Life
Off the field, Johnson became a co-owner of the Stuttgart Surge, a club in the European League of Football, announcing the investment in February 2022. He splits his time between his football career in the United States and his business interests in Germany. He has continued to identify strongly with his German roots while embracing his American upbringing and military family heritage.
2025 Season Performance
Johnson’s 2025 campaign with the Houston Texans began in March when he signed a one-year contract and entered training camp competing for a roster spot. After being released during final cuts in August, he returned via the practice squad and was elevated for the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. He quickly made an impact, blocking a punt on special teams in Week 2 before being promoted to the active roster on 20 September.
A hamstring injury suffered in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars forced him onto injured reserve, where he remained until mid-November. After being activated ahead of a Week 11 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, he returned to the Texans’ special teams units and provided veteran depth. He was waived on 8 December and re-signed to the practice squad two days later, finishing the season as one of the most experienced special teams players in Houston’s locker room.
Looking ahead, Johnson’s role with the Texans for the remainder of 2025 and beyond will likely center on special teams and short-yardage blocking, areas where he has built his reputation throughout his NFL career. His international background and fullback profile make him a unique piece for Houston’s roster, and his co-ownership of the Stuttgart Surge also reflects his growing influence in European American football.