David Anthony Johnson was a professional footballer who played as a left-winger and centre-forward. He began his career with Manchester United’s youth system before playing for various English clubs, including Bury, Ipswich Town, and Nottingham Forest.
You can follow David Johnson’s biography, personal details, career details, relationship status, net worth, contract, career stats, and more here.
David Johnson’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | David Anthony Johnson |
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1976 |
| Age | 48 |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Place of Birth | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Nationality | Jamaican, English |
| Position | Left Winger, Centre-Forward |
| Club Debut | 1995 (for Bury) |
| International Debut | 1999 (for Jamaica) |
| Current Club | Retired |
| Foot | Both |
| Relationship Status | Divorced |
| WIfe | Alison Johnson |
David Anthony Johnson was born on August 15, 1976, in Kingston, Jamaica. He moved to England at a young age and grew up in Manchester, where he began his football journey.
He joined Manchester United’s youth academy. Johnson’s talent was evident from an early age, but he struggled to break into United’s first team.
Club Career
David Anthony Johnson’s club career spanned several English teams, beginning with Manchester United’s youth system. However, he was unable to break into United’s first team and joined Bury on a free transfer in 1995.
At Bury, Johnson scored 18 goals in 97 league appearances over 2 years. His performances caught the attention of Ipswich Town, who signed him for £1.1 million in November 1997. Johnson continued to impress at Ipswich, scoring 55 goals in 131 league appearances.
In January 2001, he made a £3 million move to Nottingham Forest, where he spent the majority of his career. At Forest, Johnson scored 46 goals in 148 league appearances over 6 years.
During his time at Forest, Johnson had loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday (scoring 2 goals in 7 appearances) and Burnley (5 goals in 8 appearances) in 2002. He also had a brief loan spell at Sheffield United in 2005, making 4 substitute appearances.
Johnson’s career was unfortunately cut short by a back injury at the age of 30. His final professional stint was with Hucknall Town in the 2007/08 season before retiring from football.
International Career
Johnson’s international career was complex due to his eligibility for multiple nations. He initially played for England’s schoolboy team and was called up to the England U21 squad in 1997.
In 1999, Johnson played four friendly matches for Jamaica, scoring 2 goals. However, due to FIFA regulations at the time, he was still eligible to represent other nations.
There was interest from Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, but ultimately, Johnson was only eligible to play for England or Jamaica due to an agreement between the Home Nations. His international career ended with 4 appearances and 2 goals for Jamaica.
Relationship Status
Johnson was married to Alison Johnson from 1995 to September 2009, when they separated after Johnson had an affair.
David Johnson has a son named Brennan Johnson, who is also a professional footballer. Brennan currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team.
David Johnson’s Net Worth Details
David Johnson’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million as of 2025.
Contract
David Anthony Johnson began his career with Manchester United’s youth system. He played for various English clubs, including Bury, Ipswich Town, and Nottingham Forest.
In 1997, he moved to Ipswich Town for a transfer fee of £1.1 million. In 2001, he transferred to Nottingham Forest for £3.5 million.
Career Stats
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| First Division | 249 | 104 | – |
| Championship | 35 | 6 | 4 |
| EFL Cup | 17 | 4 | – |
| League One | 17 | 3 | 3 |
| Premier League | 13 | – | – |
| FA Cup | 8 | – | – |
| Total | 339 | 117 | 7 |
FAQs
1. Who is David Johnson?
David Johnson is a former NFL running back who played eight seasons in the league. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Northern Iowa. He also played for the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints before retiring in 2024.
2. What were David Johnson’s career highlights?
David Johnson’s best season came in 2016 when he earned Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors. That year, he led the NFL with 2,118 all-purpose yards and tied Barry Sanders’ record of 100+ all-purpose yards in 15 consecutive games. He also scored 20 total touchdowns that season.
3. What teams did David Johnson play for during his NFL career?
David Johnson played for three teams: the Arizona Cardinals (2015–2019), Houston Texans (2020–2021), and New Orleans Saints (2022). He spent the majority of his career with the Cardinals, where he achieved his greatest success.
4. Why is David Johnson’s rookie season memorable?
In his rookie season, David Johnson became the first player in NFL history to score a rushing, receiving, and kickoff return touchdown in his first two games. His jersey and cleats from this historic performance were sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
5. What was the controversial trade involving David Johnson?
In 2020, the Arizona Cardinals traded David Johnson to the Houston Texans along with draft picks in exchange for star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The trade was widely criticized as one of the worst in NFL history due to Hopkins’ value compared to Johnson’s declining production.
6. What are David Johnson’s career statistics?
David Johnson finished his career with 4,071 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns, 2,803 receiving yards, and 18 receiving touchdowns. He also accumulated over 6,800 all-purpose yards across his eight seasons.
7. What records did David Johnson set during his college career?
At Northern Iowa, David Johnson set school records for career rushing yards (4,687), total touchdowns (64), and all-purpose yards (6,859). His senior season included a record-setting 2,527 all-purpose yards and 20 total touchdowns.
8. What awards did David Johnson receive during his NFL career?
David Johnson was named to the Pro Bowl and earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2016. He also finished third in voting for the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award that same season.
9. When did David Johnson retire from football?
David Johnson announced his retirement from professional football on May 19, 2024. He expressed gratitude for his career and excitement for future opportunities beyond football.
10. What is David Johnson doing after retirement?
After retiring, David Johnson resides with his family in Houston, Texas. He is also involved with The Johnson Family’s Mission 31 Foundation, which supports seriously ill children and their families through various resources and life-changing experiences.
