Brandon Johnson

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Lore & Background

Johnson's path to the NFL began at American Heritage School, where he played high school football. He started his college career at Tennessee, playing from 2016 to 2020 under head coaches Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt. In his time as a Volunteer, he totaled 79 receptions for 969 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, plus a punt return touchdown. For the 2021 season, he transferred to UCF, where he had 38 receptions for 565 receiving yards and a team-leading 11 receiving touchdowns. After going undrafted in 2022, Johnson signed with the Denver Broncos. He was waived with an injury settlement in August after an ankle sprain, but re-signed to the practice squad in October. He made his NFL debut on November 20, 2022, against the Las Vegas Raiders, catching one pass for two yards in a 22–16 loss. In Week 12 against the Carolina Panthers, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard reception in a 23–10 loss. In his rookie season, he appeared in seven games and recorded six receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown. In 2023, Johnson had a memorable moment in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders: with the Broncos trailing 35–27 and three seconds left in regulation, he hauled in a 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from Russell Wilson as time expired. Denver lost 35–33 after failing the two-point conversion, and the play was controversial due to an uncalled pass interference penalty. Johnson finished the 2023 season with 19 receptions for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games and two starts. He was waived by the Broncos on August 27, 2024.

In Their Own Story

After being waived by Denver, Johnson was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad on August 28, 2024. He appeared in three games for the Steelers that season and signed a reserve/future contract on January 14, 2025. However, he was waived with an injury designation on August 26, 2025, during final roster cuts, and released from injured reserve on August 29. Johnson then joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad on October 22, 2025, but was released on December 15. Just over a week later, on December 24, 2025, he was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad again. On January 20, 2026, Johnson signed with the Denver Broncos' practice squad following injuries to Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant. He then signed a one-year contract with the Steelers on April 28, 2026, but was released on June 9. The next day, June 10, 2026, Johnson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he currently plays.

Reader's Guide

Brandon Johnson is a wide receiver known for his ability to make contested catches, as shown by his 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown in 2023. He has experience on special teams, having returned a punt for a touchdown in college. His career has been marked by multiple team changes, including three stints with the Steelers and two with the Broncos. Johnson's role with the Raiders will likely be as a depth receiver and special teams contributor, given his history of bouncing between practice squads and active rosters. His best statistical season came in 2023 with the Broncos, where he had 19 catches for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games.

Did You Know?

• Johnson's father, Charles Johnson, played in Major League Baseball.
• His cousin is former Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Johnson.
• He scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard reception in a 23–10 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 of the 2022 season.
• In Week 2 of the 2023 season, Johnson caught a 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from Russell Wilson as time expired, but the Broncos lost 35–33 after failing the two-point conversion.
• Johnson has had three separate stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and two with the Denver Broncos.