A seventh-round pick who moved from cornerback to safety at Iowa State, Anthony Johnson Jr. has bounced through three NFL rosters while carving out a depth role in the secondary.
Anthony Johnson Jr. is a well-traveled defensive back who started his career in Green Bay before stops with the Giants and now Chicago. His versatility, having played both cornerback and safety in college, has kept him on NFL rosters as a depth piece and special-teams contributor.
Path to the league
Johnson played cornerback at Iowa State beginning in 2018 before moving to safety for a fifth season in 2022, using a COVID-19 eligibility extension. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors that final year after recording 60 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups. The Green Bay Packers selected him in the seventh round, 242nd overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft, using a pick originally owned by Jacksonville.
Career highlights
Johnson started four games as a rookie for Green Bay in 2023, finishing with 24 tackles, an interception and three pass deflections across 12 games. He signed with the New York Giants in 2024, where he continued working as a rotational safety and special-teams player.
2025 season recap
Johnson played a limited defensive role for the Giants in 2025 behind the team's starting safeties, but made the most of his opportunities, recording his first interception with New York on a pass intended for Cooper Kupp in the fourth quarter against the Rams. The Giants released him in March 2026, and he signed with the Chicago Bears that May.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Anthony Johnson Jr.
- ESPN: Anthony Johnson Jr.
Statistics
2025 season and career▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | giants | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | packers | 12 | 24 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Safety
- Group
- defense
- College
- Iowa State
- Hometown
- St. Petersburg, FL, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- active
