RB David Johnson Retires

David Johnson was out of the NFL in 2023, and he will not attempt a return this coming season. The veteran running back announced his retirement on Sunday.

Johnson spent his first five seasons with the Cardinals, enjoying his most productive campaigns in the desert. His career was highlighted by the 2016 season in which he led the league in offensive touches (373), scrimmage yards (2,118) and total touchdowns (20). Those figures helped him earn Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors for the first and only time during his NFL tenure.

The Northern Iowa product suffered a wrist injury the following season, and it limited him to just one contest. Johnson bounced back in 2018, though, producing 1,386 total yards and again scoring double-digit total touchdowns. After seeing a dip in playing time during his final Cardinals campaign, the former third-rounder was included in the DeAndre Hopkins trade. That set up a two-year Texans stint.

Johnson served as a full-time starter in 2020, but he took on a rotational role the following year. Upon the expiration of his Houston pact, he had a lengthy stay on the open market which ultimately ended in a Saints practice squad agreement. Johnson played five games with New Orleans in 2022, but he has not found a deal since. Rather than pursuing a tryout with teams eyeing veteran backfield depth this summer, he will hang up his cleats.

The 32-year-old will end his career with 92 regular season games to his name. Having spent much of his career on rebuilding teams, his only two playoff contests came during his rookie season. Thanks in large part to his 2018 Cardinals extension, Johnson amassed roughly $38.6MM in career earnings.

“I’m looking forward to my next career path in life,” his announcement reads in part. “I don’t know exactly what that will be, but I hope it will bring me the same passion, excitement, and love as football did!”