A Big Ten Running Back of the Year who broke a 1,000-yard rushing drought at Nebraska before Kansas City drafted him in the fifth round.
Emmett Johnson arrives in Kansas City off the best season a Nebraska running back has produced in years. The Minneapolis native turned a workhorse junior campaign into the program's first 1,000-yard rushing season since 2018, then heard his name called by the Chiefs on day three of the 2026 draft.
Path to the league
Johnson grew up in Minneapolis and starred at the Academy of Holy Angels, where he was named Minnesota's Mr. Football after rushing for more than 2,500 yards and 42 touchdowns as a senior. He signed with Nebraska as a three-star recruit and worked his way into the starting role by his junior season. The Chiefs selected him in the fifth round, pick No. 161 overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Johnson finished his Nebraska career with 2,460 rushing yards and added 702 receiving yards on 92 catches, showing a receiving skill set that stood out among Big Ten backs. He became just the seventh Big Ten player since 1956 to reach 1,400 rushing yards and 350 receiving yards in the same season. He was named Nebraska's first-ever Big Ten Running Back of the Year.
2025 season recap
In his final college season, Johnson started all 12 regular-season games and rushed for 1,451 yards on 251 carries with 12 touchdowns, ranking third in the FBS in rushing. He added 46 receptions for 370 yards and three more scores, leading the nation in scrimmage yards per game at 151.8. The performance earned him first-team All-America recognition from Sports Illustrated, On3, CBSSports.com and the Sporting News, plus Maxwell and Doak Walker Award semifinalist nods.
Sources
- ESPN: Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson declares for the 2026 NFL Draft
- Nebraska Athletics: Johnson Selected by Kansas City Chiefs
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Running Back
- Group
- offense
- College
- Nebraska
- Hometown
- Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
