Jermaine Johnson II Bio
Jermaine Curtis Johnson II (born January 7, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). A first-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Johnson has developed into a key member of the Jets defense and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023.
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 250 pounds, Johnson plays on the edge of the defensive line. Before reaching the NFL, he built his résumé at Independence Community College, the University of Georgia, and Florida State University, where his final collegiate season established him as one of the top defensive prospects in the country.
Early Life and Background
Jermaine Curtis Johnson II was born on January 7, 1999, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA. He grew up in Eden Prairie and attended Eden Prairie High School, where he emerged as one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the metropolitan area during his senior season, earning All-Metro recognition after recording 37 tackles and seven sacks.
Following his high school graduation, Johnson was academically ineligible to play NCAA Division I football. That setback redirected his path through the junior college ranks and ultimately shaped the patience and resilience that have defined his football journey.
Path to American Football
Johnson began his collegiate career at Independence Community College in Kansas, where he played under head coach Jason Brown and was featured in the fourth season of the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U. As a freshman, he posted 58 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles, drawing attention from major programs across the country.
After his season at Independence, Johnson transferred to the University of Georgia, where he played every game as a sophomore and recorded 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks. In his next season with the Bulldogs, he finished third on the team with four sacks, 16 total tackles, and 11 quarterback hurries. Towards the end of that campaign, Johnson entered the transfer portal and enrolled at Florida State University for his final year of NCAA eligibility.
Jermaine Johnson II Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Johnson’s formative years in football included stops at Independence Community College, the University of Georgia, and Florida State University. At Independence, he flashed the raw tools that would later make him a first-round pick, while his time at Georgia allowed him to refine his technique against top-tier competition in the Southeastern Conference.
His move to Florida State for the 2021 season proved transformational. In his first game as a Seminole, a 41–38 overtime loss to Notre Dame, Johnson recorded seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, earning ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He closed the year with 70 tackles, an ACC-leading 18 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks, claiming the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award and first-team All-ACC recognition.
NFL Breakthrough with the New York Jets (2022–2023)
Johnson was selected in the first round with the 26th overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he appeared in 14 games and recorded 2.5 sacks and 29 total tackles, highlighted by a blocked punt that resulted in a safety against the Buffalo Bills in Week 14.
In his second NFL season, Johnson took a significant leap forward. He started all 17 games in 2023 and finished with 7.5 sacks, 55 total tackles, one interception, seven passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. A signature moment came in Week 17, when he returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. His strong play throughout the season earned him a selection to the Pro Bowl.
Recent Seasons and Current Team Era (2024–Present)
Johnson’s 2024 season was cut short on September 16, 2024, when he announced that he had suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the Jets’ Week 2 game against the Tennessee Titans. The injury ended his year and required a lengthy rehabilitation, but the Jets publicly committed to him as a cornerstone of their defense.
On April 21, 2025, the Jets picked up the fifth-year option on Johnson’s contract, signaling their long-term investment in his development. Heading into the 2025 season, Johnson remains a foundational piece of the Jets’ defensive front as he works back to full health.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s professional résumé is anchored by a first-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, a Pro Bowl appearance in 2023, and the fifth-year option tendered by the Jets in 2025. His blocked punt against Buffalo and 37-yard interception return for a touchdown against Cleveland stand out as signature early-career highlights.
Jermaine Johnson II Career Awards
Johnson’s path to the NFL included several major recognitions, capped by a Pro Bowl selection in just his second professional season.
College and Professional Honors
At Florida State, Johnson was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2021. He was also recognized as a first-team All-American that same season. In the NFL, he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2023 after a breakout second year with the Jets.
Jermaine Johnson II Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jermaine Curtis Johnson II was raised in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, the community where he attended Eden Prairie High School and first gained statewide recognition as a high school defender. Publicly available details about his parents and extended family remain limited.
Outside of football, Johnson maintains an active presence on social media, where fans can follow his career and recovery updates. He has not publicly disclosed a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents a pivotal comeback chapter for Jermaine Johnson II as he returns from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 2 of the 2024 campaign. The Jets’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option on April 21, 2025, signals their belief that he can return to the form that produced a 2023 Pro Bowl season.
Johnson is expected to reclaim a starting role on the Jets’ defensive edge, where his combination of size, length, and pass-rush productivity has been central to the team’s defensive identity. His presence alongside other young Jets defenders should bolster a unit looking to climb the AFC standings.
With a full offseason of rehabilitation behind him, Johnson enters 2025 motivated to re-establish himself among the league’s premier young pass rushers and to help anchor the next competitive phase of the New York Jets.