For the most part, NFL receivers have a stereotype of being outspoken, loud, and cocky.
Without a doubt, Chad Johnson was all of the above.
Happy Birthday to Cincinnati Bengals legend, Chad Johnson! @ochocinco pic.twitter.com/87rqdyNM40
— Josh Iles (@WDNToday) January 9, 2023
However, Johnson, who also went by Chad “Ochocinco” during his playing days, could also back up his words.
During his career, Johnson caught almost 800 passes for 82 touchdowns while thrilling Cincinnati Bengals fans with his play.
Along the way, he rarely missed a chance to chirp at opponents or remind viewers of his talent.
In fact, after catching a touchdown in Week 1 of the 2007 season, Johnson went to the sideline and donned an NFL Hall of Fame replica jacket.
As of 2023, he has yet to be voted into the Hall, but his future induction is still up for debate.
This is the story of Chad Johnson.
Growing Up in Miami
Chad Javon Johnson was born on January 9, 1978, in Miami, Florida.
When he was just five years old, Johnson’s mother, Paula Johnson, left Chad with her mother, Bessie Flowers, and took her other son, Chauncey, with her to California.
Years later, Paula Johnson admitted she didn’t want to leave Chad, but she was not in the best place to raise two boys alone.
“Two kids out of wedlock. That’s not me. I just couldn’t get it together. I do regret leaving him. But I did the right thing,” said Paula in Chad Johnson’s book, Chad: I Can’t Be Stopped.
Flowers raised Chad the best she could using the tools she had in 40 years as an educator and counselor.
It wasn’t easy.
Johnson was always on the go and could find himself getting in hot water for the strangest reasons.
For example, when he was 10, Johnson crashed his grandmother’s car into her front gate.
The reason he gave Flowers for the mishap was that he was going to get her car washed.
“Boy cannot sit still,” Flowers said, smiling in 2006. “Has no attention span. Never did.”
To tame the wiggles, Johnson was an avid youth soccer player and also took up the game of football.
Academic Trouble
Johnson did well in both sports and could have matriculated to a Division I school to play ball.
Unfortunately, while he shined on the playing field, Johnson couldn’t bring the same dogged focus to the classroom.
Miami Beach Senior High School (Miami Beach, FL)
Chad Johnson ’96
Samari Rolle ’94
Duane Starks ’93
Terry Cousin ’93
Dave Thomas ’88
Herb Rich ’46@FLgridironpreps pic.twitter.com/WMcOAXo1oO— Prep2ProDB (@Prep2ProDB) January 13, 2022
The University of Miami and Florida State University loved his size and speed as a prep receiver for Miami Beach Senior High, but his grades were too low to qualify.
“Hey,” Johnson said with a laugh, “if you’re good at football, you don’t have to go to class. I have to admit, though: Even if I wasn’t good, I still wouldn’t have gone to class.”
Instead, he enrolled at Langston University in Oklahoma to get a jump start on his academics and play football as well.
His plan didn’t work out after getting kicked off the Langston team for fighting.
Johnson returned to Miami wondering what his future held.
“This was really a turning point in my life,” said Johnson. “I wasn’t going to get a job. I was only interested in playing football. If football wasn’t a part of my life, there were three things that could have happened, and they were all bad.”
Flowers sat with her grandson and convinced him to start over by moving out to California to live with his mother and enroll in school.
Johnson listened to her words of wisdom and decided to head west.
Stripping to Make Ends Meet
Although he reconnected with his mother when he arrived in California, Johnson didn’t want to live with her.
He enrolled at Santa Monica College (a community college) and got an unusual job to make ends meet.
“I used to strip at The Right Track. I used to be a dancer. In 1997, I was in LA. My mom was out there, but I really couldn’t live with my mama, so I had a place in Santa Monica. Sometimes, I was short on my light bill. Them candles, light em. I used to strip. I used to be a dancer. I used to strip at The Right Track. I bulls*** you not,” Johnson revealed in 2023.
Johnson also shared that he went by the stage name “Twix” because of how skinny he was at the time.
Whenever he wasn’t on stage dancing for money, Johnson could be found shaking his stuff on the gridiron.
In 1997, Santa Monica College was stacked with Johnson, future NFL star Steve Smith, and future Arena League playmaker Eugene Sykes.
Chad Johnson and Steve Smith as teammates at Santa Monica College (1997) pic.twitter.com/Wc76RvQhab
— AuxGod (@AuxGod_) March 3, 2023
Johnson’s position coach, Charles Collins, saw his potential and knew he could be something special.
“There was something about him,” Collins said. “You could see that he was passionate about football. He was sloppy, wild–but he could run.”
Johnson Heads to Oregon State
After a good 1997 campaign, Johnson was ruled ineligible to play in 1998 because of his grades.
He took classes and worked with Collins on his route running and improved enough in both areas to return to the Corsairs in 1999.
“He just soaked it up,” said Collins.”That year he was ineligible, we worked through all of it–on when the safety sits heavy in his stance, when he’s light in his stance, when he has a quick-jump type of stance, which shoulder to attack. We worked on how to get a DB turned if he has inside position. Chad was obsessed. He would think about this stuff, watch football and call me at home–early morning, late night, all night.”
Johnson came back in ‘99 with a vengeance and torched opponents.
When the season ended, Johnson was still 18 credits shy of qualifying for the NCAA and signing with a Division I school.
He spent the next few months driving between three different schools to finish the classes he needed.
“My window was closing,” said Johnson, “but when I set my mind to it, I can do the schoolwork.”
As he went to class, Collins was trying to sell his former receiver to any college coach who would listen.
It's still wild to me that Chad Johnson played at Oregon State pic.twitter.com/RJUzUkZD3q
— Dj Chuck La Ross (@Rosscharles03) April 17, 2023
Oregon State University coach Dennis Erickson, who had won two national titles with the Miami Hurricanes, listened and liked what he heard from Collins.
“…if Charlie Collins says they can play, well, they can play,” said Erickson.
Johnson liked Erickson and committed to the Beavers, then wrapped his summer school classes three weeks before the 2000 season began.
Breakthrough
Erickson had taken over the Oregon State program in 1999 and led the Beavers to their first winning season since 1970.
Sticking with Oregon State and Bengals, going with Chad Johnson pic.twitter.com/lPnVZZSFzl
— Brandon (@NastyNati740) June 11, 2021
In 2000, the coach was instrumental in building a talented roster that included Johnson, fellow receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh, and quarterback Jonathan Smith.
Since he arrived late, Johnson was fourth on the receiver depth chart but quickly rose to the top to start alongside Houshmandzadeh.
“T.J. did everything for me,” Johnson said. “We would be in the huddle, I wouldn’t know the plays, and he would signal me what to do. Without him I wouldn’t have made it.”
The Beavers started hot and won their first four before dropping a contest against the University of Washington.
Happy 44th Birthday to Oregon State alum Chad Johnson.
In his one season in Corvallis he had 37 catches for 806 yards and 8 TD’s. One of those TD catches was a school record 97 yard pass thrown by current Beaver coach @Coach_Smith.@ochocinco#BuildTheDam #OregonState pic.twitter.com/vaiMCTXBL8
— Saturday Gameday (@SaturdayGameday) January 9, 2022
One week later against Stanford, Johnson hauled in a huge 97-yard touchdown catch to help beat the Cardinal, 38-6.
The play broke an OSU record for longest receiving touchdown.
By the end of the regular season, Johnson had 33 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns.
Drafted by Cincinnati
With their 10-1 record, the fifth-ranked Beavers faced tenth-ranked Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
Some pundits believed that OSU’s season was a fluke and that the Irish would end their magical run.
That notion was put to rest after Smith passed for 305 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-9 thrashing.
Chad Johnson helped lead Oregon State to their best season in school history and a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame in his only year with the Beavers (2000)@ochocinco | @BeaverFootball pic.twitter.com/X7tgAimy63
— CFB History (@CFB_History) June 30, 2021
Two of Smith’s scores went to Johnson who played in his final college football game and had four catches for 93 yards in addition to his touchdowns.
Johnson then played in the Senior Bowl and played against his future NFL peers.
Before the 2001 NFL Draft, the pass-catcher was interviewed by ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper Junior and mentioned that his biggest assets were his size, hands, and “blistering” speed.
Johnson also told Kiper that he had no weaknesses to speak of.
“As of right now, I don’t have any weaknesses as a football player,” said Johnson. “Two to three years ago, it could have been my route-running. Now, though, I take great pride in my ability to run precise, disciplined routes and in the process understand what we’re trying to accomplish. I feel I’ve become even more explosive out of my break.”
Such bravado and confidence may have turned off some teams.
The Cincinnati Bengals were not one of them and grabbed Johnson with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the draft.
Seeing T. J. Houshmandzadeh & Chad Johnson together again in Cincinnati this weekend makes this weekend that much more better. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/m7z4QDeTsr
— Troy (Moose) Bengals & Things 🐅 (@moose196850) January 14, 2023
As a bonus, the Bengals also drafted Houshmandzadeh with their seventh-round selection.
Growing Pains
The Bengals needed help.
Before Johnson arrived in 2001, the franchise hadn’t been to the NFL playoffs since 1990.
It didn’t get much better in ‘01 as Johnson started three games as a rookie and caught 28 passes from quarterback Jon Kitna for 329 yards and one touchdown.
April 21, 2001 – The Bengals nail the draft with Justin Smith at no. 4, and Chad Johnson at no. 36. Happy drafted day, @ochocinco!
This Day In Bengals History, Geoff Hobson pic.twitter.com/ZAG4l0fFMF
— 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 (@BengalsCaptain) April 21, 2020
Cincinnati went 6-10, then won only two games in 2002, the lowest win total in the organization’s history.
Johnson didn’t let the lack of victories get to him.
He started 14 games and improved to 69 receptions for 1,166 yards and five touchdowns.
In 2023, Johnson explained the primary reason for his dramatic improvement.
“You gotta remember, I stayed at the stadium the first two years because I didn’t want to spend no money,” Johnson told Shannon Sharpe. “What’s the point? Why are you telling me to go rent a house, go buy a house, or go rent a condo when everything I need is right here in the facility? Showers, cafeteria, TV, couch, gaming system. What’s the point? I was so locked in. It wasn’t about having my own space.”
One of the NFL’s Best
Before the 2003 season, the Bengals hired former Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis to be their new head coach.
According to Johnson, Lewis encouraged the receiver to move out of the Bengals’ stadium and find his own place to stay.
Cincinnati also drafted USC quarterback Carson Palmer in the ‘03 draft, although he wouldn’t play until 2004.
In Lewis’s first season, the Bengals went 8-8 and Kitna received the league’s Comeback Player of the Year.
March 8, 2001 – The Bengals tap Jon Kitna to help revitalize the offense with the team winning just 11 games in the previous three seasons.
IMO, he filled in admirably, and helped Chad Johnson to a franchise season record in 2003.
This Day In Bengals History, Geoff Hobson pic.twitter.com/UtoSkvuorS
— 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 (@BengalsCaptain) March 8, 2020
The award was cinched when Kitna connected with Johnson for 90 receptions, 1,355 yards (a team record for a receiver) and a career-high 10 touchdowns.
His stats led Johnson to receive the first of five consecutive Pro Bowl nods.
Fines Aplenty
By this point in his career, Johnson took great pains to test the limits of the NFL’s patience.
He enjoyed getting into the end zone and acting as if he’d never return.
Johnson’s celebrations led the NFL to fine him many times.
In 2003 alone, Johnson was fined twice for excessive celebrations before he scored in a game against San Francisco in Week 15.
@ochocinco grabbing the sign that said
Dear NFL,
Please don't fine me again.
Your friend,
Chad Johnson— Commanders 4-9. Season OVER. Bye Ron #HTTC (@hizillnizz) November 28, 2022
After crossing the goal line, Johnson reached behind a snowbank and pulled out a ready-made sign that read “Dear NFL, please don’t fine me again!!!!”
To which the league promptly fined him $10,000.
When Palmer started playing up to his lofty potential and threw more touchdown passes Johnson’s way, the receiver only ramped things up.
For the next few years, Johnson celebrated with an Irish jig, performed mock CPR on a football, dropped to a knee, and proposed to a Bengals cheerleader.
“He’s always running these ideas by me,” said fellow Bengals wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh. “Sometimes I veto them, but he doesn’t listen to me.”
In 2005 Johnson decided to goad opposing corners by keeping a list at his locker called “Who covered 85 in ‘05.”
someone should drop it in his ear to post a list of opposing QB's and roast them after games ala Chad Johnson and CB's 2005 pic.twitter.com/xWKHFw77Nk
— Amish Butcher (@PittShawnC) August 15, 2018
After every contest, Johnson would publicly share whether the defender assigned to cover him did an adequate job or not.
More often than not the corners and safeties failed.
“It’s just me being me,” said Johnson of his theatrics. “It just comes out. Spontaneous. But you know what? I have to do it. The whole team feeds on me. They know if 85 is up, then it’s gonna be a good day.”
Between 2004 and 2006, Johnson caught 95, 97, and 87 passes respectively, broke his franchise receiving yards record in 2005 with 1,432 yards and led the NFL in receiving yards in ‘06 with 1,369.
“Ocho Cinco”
As if being fined for celebrating wasn’t enough to bring attention, Johnson decided to change his name during the 2006 season.
In late October of that year, the receiver started calling himself Chad “Ocho Cinco” in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Ocho and Cinco are the numbers “8” and “5” in the Spanish language.
However, as reporters quickly pointed out, 85 in Spanish is actually “ochenta y cinco.”
That didn’t matter to Johnson.
He liked the sound of “Ocho Cinco” and went with it.
Before a game against Atlanta four days after his announcement, Johnson had his new name on the back of his jersey.
Notable Moments in NOB History: Chad Johnson wear Velcro cover-up "Ocho Cinco" nameplate during pregame warm-ups in 2006 (left). Later legally changes his name to Chad Ochocinco and wears the name for real — this time as one word, not two (right). pic.twitter.com/jUuGMseDyS
— Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) February 20, 2018
Palmer then walked over and tore the fake nameplate off to reveal Johnson’s birth name.
The NFL was not amused and fined him $5,000.
Two years later, Johnson officially changed his name to Chad Javon Ochocinco.
He wore the new last name on his jersey from 2009-2011.
The Hall of Fame?
As the 2007 season dawned, Johnson/Ochocinco was ready to take the next step toward his perceived immortality.
Before the season began, he was on television going toe-to-hoof against a thoroughbred racehorse.
Johnson was given a 110-yard headstart and beat the horse by a dozen lengths.
In Week 1 of the football season, he caught a 39-yard touchdown from Palmer for the first score of the game.
Johnson then ran over to the sideline pulled out a replica Pro Football Hall of Fame gold jacket and put it over his shoulder pads.
The back of the jacket read, “Future H.O.F. 20??”
If Chad Johnson gets in the Hall of Fame, he better wear this jacket to the induction ceremony https://t.co/pfcbk5SwUK pic.twitter.com/yppwCdtev7
— Brennan Mense (@BrennanMense) September 17, 2019
He backed up his boast with five catches for 95 yards and his score that day, then a hefty 11 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns the next week against Cleveland.
By the end of the Browns game, Johnson already had 7,229 career receiving yards and broke the Bengals team record of Isaac Curtis.
Not even a public spat between Palmer and Johnson for an errant interception that season could keep the receiver from having a fantastic year.
At the end of the season, he totaled 93 receptions for a career-best 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns leading to Johnson’s fifth straight Pro Bowl selection.
The End Comes Quickly
In 2008, Palmer missed a majority of the season with an injury and Johnson felt the loss by grabbing only 53 passes.
Things improved in 2009 when Palmer returned and Johnson benefitted with 725 catches, over 1,000 receiving yards, and nine scores and reaching his sixth Pro Bowl.
Cincinnati returned to the playoffs after three years away but lost to the Jets in the Wild Card round.
Can we all agree the Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson season in Cincinnati felt like it never really happened?
One of the weirdest #Bengals seasons I can remember. Owens was 37 that season, Chad was 32… pic.twitter.com/AyaDZi0miN
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) August 19, 2021
In 2010, Johnson and good friend Terrell Owens had a reality show called the T.Ocho Show that bombed.
Johnson’s stats also took a hit with 67 receptions, 831 yards, and four touchdowns.
It seemed that as quickly as Johnson’s star shone bright, the luster faded quickly.
He became the 30th player in the NFL’s long history to pass the 700-catch plateau that season, but when the year ended, so did Johnson’s time in the Queen City.
The Patriots
In late July of 2011, the New England Patriots traded for Johnson.
It was odd that a disciplinarian like coach Bill Belichick would want a player of Johnson’s outspoken qualities.
Name a player that you overpaid for in a fantasy draft. We’ll start with a team in our league. Someone drafted Chad Johnson in 2011 when he went to New England and used an EARLY first round pick. They argued that he would have a Randy Moss type of revival… pic.twitter.com/tW5GCFQa50
— Little Critters Clubhouse (@LCClubhouse) April 22, 2022
However, the coach had previously brought in malcontents such as Corey Dillon and Randy Moss and the results were Super Bowl appearances.
“It’s an odd couple,” Belichick said at the time, drawing some laughter from media members. “But in the end, I think we have a lot of things in common. I like Chad. I like him as a player, I like him as a person. I like his enthusiasm and the fun he has in football, and how he competes on the football field.”
Johnson teamed up with quarterback Tom Brady and started three times during the Pats’ 13-3 season.
He caught only 15 passes for one touchdown during the year and had one reception for 21 yards during the team’s 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.
One year later, Johnson was released by New England his honeymoon with Belichick and the franchise ended.
“My personality was controlled last year,” said Johnson. “You didn’t hear me at all last year. Zero. Zilch. When my mouth is running, it forces me to perform. It’s never been vindictive. I never got anybody in trouble. … When I can be me, I am loose. Everything just flows for me, whether it’s the style of play, the way I learn.”
Retirement
The following summer, Johnson was signed by the Miami Dolphins and legally changed his name back to “Johnson.”
Apparently, the change was brought about by Johnson’s marriage to television actress Evelyn Lozada.
“The couple preferred Evelyn’s last name to be a real name and not the fun ‘Ochocinco’ character we have come to love,” said a statement about the change, per NFL.com.
“I’m refocused and locked in. Time to get back to the old me,” Johnson said. “I’m just doing it for the marriage. It has nothing to do with football. Ochocinco is still in me. It’s just my middle name.”
Johnson was publicly released from the Dolphins on an episode of HBO’s hit show Hard Knocks after being arrested for an altercation.
Two years later, Johnson was signed by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Still No. 85, but no 'Ochocinco' – Chad Johnson, CFL's Montreal Alouettes.
(via http://t.co/4op9LkoytD) pic.twitter.com/8pVFaoUrxI
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) June 17, 2014
In 2014, he caught seven passes for 151 yards and a touchdown and was suspended for the entire 2015 season.
Then, in 2017, Johnson signed for one game to play with the Fundidores de Monterrey team in Mexico.
He hauled in three passes and a touchdown for the afternoon.
During his NFL career, Johnson caught 766 passes for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns.
Chad Johnson’s Career Stats
• 11 Seasons (166 Games)
• 766 Receptions / 1,372 Targets
• 11,059 Receiving Yards
• 66.6 YPG, 14.4 YPR
• 67 Touchdowns
• 6x Pro Bowler (‘03-‘07, 2009)
• 4x All-Pro (1st: ‘04-‘06, 2nd: ‘03)
• 2006 receiving yards leaderIs he a Hall of Famer? pic.twitter.com/Hgpcms8UhJ
— Bengals Graphics (@BengalsGraphic5) August 26, 2023
He also had 24 rushing attempts for 175 yards.
Johnson was a five-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro, and the NFL’s reception yards leader once.
As of 2023, he is Cincinnati’s leader in several categories including career receptions (751), receiving yards (10,783), and receiving touchdowns (66).
Although Johnson has been added to the Bengals’ Ring of Honor, he’s still waiting for his call to the Hall of Fame.
Life After Football
As Johnson’s grandmother once said, the former receiver never stays idle for long.
During his final season with the Bengals, Johnson appeared on Dancing with the Stars and made it to the final four of the contestants.
In addition to frequent television appearances, Johnson also spent time trying to play professional soccer.
Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer gave him a four-day try-out in 2011.
Chad Johnson soccer tryout pics got me crying pic.twitter.com/530fahjhWk
— opium (@k1nd0fbIue) December 20, 2021
Then, in 2018 and 2019, Johnson scored goals as a member of Boca Raton FC.
In 2023, Florida A&M University announced that Johnson was added to the football staff as a consultant and ambassador for the program.
Johnson’s marriage to Lozada didn’t last long, especially after he was arrested for head-butting the actress over an argument about condoms in 2012.
He got engaged in January of 2023 and Johnson has nine children including a son, Chad, who played receiver for Arizona State University.
In 2021, Johnson revealed that most of the $48 million he made playing pro football goes toward paying for child support.
References
https://vault.si.com/vault/2006/10/30/its-good-to-be-chad
https://www.espn.com/melkiper/s/2001/0215/1085985.html
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/chad-johnson-1.html
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1668057-where-did-it-all-go-wrong-for-chad-johnson
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnCh01.htm
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/24/sport/chad-johnson-nfl-cincinnati-bengals-spt-intl/index.html
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