Keyshawn Johnson

Lore & Background

Johnson was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended Palisades High School for his sophomore and junior years and Susan Miller Dorsey High School for his senior year. In eighth grade, he spent nine months in a California youth facility after being arrested for possession of marijuana, cocaine, and a concealed handgun. His low SAT scores forced him to start his college career at West Los Angeles College. He transferred to USC in 1994 and 1995, where he was twice an All-American. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 31, 2008. He graduated from USC with a B.A. in social sciences and history in 1997.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Raymond James Stadium was thick with humidity and anticipation as Keyshawn Johnson lined up on the right hash. The opposing safety had dropped back deep, expecting a pass to the short middle route, but Keyshawn's eyes were locked on the quarterback. As the ball spiraled through the Tampa night, it wasn't a quick slant or a screen; it was a high-arcing bomb toward the endzone. Two defenders converged, their hands reaching for the sky, but Johnson rose above them all, his fingertips extending just inches beyond the outstretched arms of the cornerbacks. He caught the ball with a thunderous thud against his chest pad, securing the first down and silencing the crowd with a roar that echoed off the stadium walls.

Reader's Guide

Johnson was traded from the New York Jets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 12, 2000, for two first-round draft picks. He signed an 8-year, $56 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. He played for the Buccaneers from 2000 to 2003, winning Super Bowl XXXVII in the 2002 season. In 2003, he had 45 receptions for 600 yards and three touchdowns in ten games before being deactivated for the final seven games. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on March 19, 2004, for Joey Galloway. He was released by the Cowboys on March 16, 2006, and signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 23, 2006. He was released by the Panthers on May 1, 2007, and retired on May 23, 2007.

Did You Know?

• Johnson was the third wide receiver selected first overall in NFL draft history, and the most recent.
• He is the first player in NFL history to score a touchdown on Monday Night Football with four different teams (Jets, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Panthers).
• In the 1996 Rose Bowl, he caught 12 passes for a record 216 yards and one touchdown.
• He appeared on the TV show Coach while in college, refusing to be recruited by the fictional Orlando Breakers.