NFL wide receiver Collin Johnson has announced his shock retirement from football at 28.
Johnson revealed he is planning to begin studying for a Master’s degree in Business at MIT Sloan after hanging up his cleats.
He announced his decision on Instagram, posting: ‘Football has shaped my life in more ways than I can put into words.
‘It taught me faith, discipline, resilience, leadership, and how to compete at the highest level. I’m thankful for every teammate, coach, organization, and person who helped me along the way.
‘As I move into this next chapter, I’m excited to continue building Beyond-Sports by launching Founders Academy in partnership with MITdesignX — a venture-building program created for current and former professional athletes building real businesses.
‘For a long time, athletes have been seen as endorsers of other people’s companies. I believe we can be the founders, operators, investors, and owners behind them too. Grateful for the game. Excited for what’s next.’
Johnson played for the Jaguars, Bears, Giants and Raiders during his six-year NFL career
Johnson was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft after playing college football for the Texas Longhorns. At the time, he was one of the tallest wide receivers in the NFL at 6ft 6ins.
He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars and played 14 games for them in his rookie season, managing 18 receptions for 272 yards and two touchdowns.
Johnson was waived by the Jaguars at the end of the season and was signed by the New York Giants. He played 12 games in his first season before missing the entirety of his second year due to injury.
After getting released by the Giants, he was signed to the Chicago Bears’ practice squad in October 2023 before being promoted to the active roster in January 2024.
Over two seasons in Chicago he played 12 games, managing just two receptions for a combined 17 yards.
Last year, he resurfaced when he was signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. But he failed to make the cut and was released before the NFL season started.