Chris Johnson

The sixth player in history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season.

Christopher Duan Johnson, born September 23, 1985, in Orlando, Florida, is an American former professional football running back. Selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, he entered the league after clocking a then-record breaking 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Johnson was a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first three years. In 2009, he won the NFL rushing title with 2,006 yards, becoming only the sixth player ever to surpass that mark. That season, he also broke Marshall Faulk's record for total yards from scrimmage with 2,509, earning the nickname CJ2K and the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year Award.

Quick Facts

Position: Running back
Born: 23 September 1985
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida, U.S.
High school: Olympia (Orlando)
College: East Carolina (2004–2007)
Draft year: 2008
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 24

Lore & Background

Johnson's tenure with the Titans began when he signed a five-year, $12 million contract on July 26, following his selection as the 24th overall pick. He made an immediate impact, rushing for 93 yards and scoring a touchdown in his professional debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 7, 2008. Just two games later, he ran for 109 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. His speed was unmatched; after running the 4.24 dash, he tied the all-time record set by Rondel Menendez in 1999, a mark that stood until John Ross broke it in 2017 with a time of 4.22. Johnson's explosiveness defined his early career, highlighted by a 51-yard run in his second game and multiple Pro Bowl selections in his first three seasons. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his six seasons with the franchise before moving on to the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.

Reader's Guide

To understand Chris Johnson's career trajectory, one must look at his progression from East Carolina to the NFL. Drafted in 2008 after being projected as a second- or third-round pick, he proved scouts wrong with his combine performance and immediate production. His rookie season saw him finish with 1,562 all-purpose yards as a freshman at ECU, but his NFL debut was equally impressive. He rushed for 93 yards in his first game and followed it with a 109-yard effort against Cincinnati.

Johnson's consistency was remarkable; he maintained over 1,000 rushing yards for six consecutive seasons with the Titans. His career path included one season with the New York Jets and three with the Arizona Cardinals, where he had a brief resurgence in 2015 before injuries cut it short. He officially retired after the 2017 season, signing a one-day contract to retire as a Titan. His college legacy also includes graduating in 2020 and being inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame on June 25, 2023.

Did You Know?

Johnson ran a 4.24-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, tying the all-time record set in 1999 until John Ross broke it in 2017.
He became only the sixth player ever to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season during his 2009 campaign.
In college, Johnson set an NCAA FBS record with 408 all-purpose yards in the 2007 Hawai'i Bowl against Boise State.
After retiring, Johnson returned to East Carolina University and graduated in 2020.