Jakob Johnson is one of the best-known German football players. Since 2022 he is also a part of the ELF. Johnson is co-owner of the Stuttgart Surge. Since then, he has organized youth camps with the team from his hometown to develop the talent of young players. 

The 29-year-old is also one of the few German athletes who play in the NFL. Let's take a look at his career and the long road to the world's biggest football league.

Johnson first came into contact with American football at the age of 13. Back then, it was still in front of the television. He was already fascinated by the sport. As a child, he tried out a lot, whether it was soccer, wrestling or basketball. As a teenager, he found his way back to American football and also his way to the Stuttgart Scorpions.

This is where Johnson's active football career began. Unlike today, however, he was part of the defense - as a linebacker. Later he switched to the fullback position. He played well for the Scorpions. In 2013 Johnson made the transfer to the USA through relatives. He moved to Jacksonville in Florida and attended high school there. 

From college back to Germany

Johnson performed well and several offers from renowned colleges followed. These included the University of Tennessee, which Johnson subsequently attended. Injuries slowed down the talented player. Johnson was not drafted. He returned to Germany in 2017 downhearted. There were even thoughts of ending his career, he later revealed in an interview. But friends convinced him to keep believing in football.

He started again with the Stuttgart Scorpions. The turning point came in 2018. NFL scouts discovered Johnson and invited him to the International Player Pathway Program (IPP). The NFL project aims to promote young Europeans and enable them to make the transition to the NFL. Johnson returned to the USA at the start of 2019.

Johnson made the long-awaited move

Even though the IPP didn't guarantee a move to the NFL, Johnson's strong athleticism and flexibility helped. After all, he already played linebacker, tight end and fullback. He was sent to the New England Patriots in 2019. He played here as a fullback and established himself primarily in the blocking scheme. He played a total of 69 games for the Patriots, 34 of them as a starter. He even scored a touchdown in 2020.

2022 Johnson then moved to the Las Vegas Raiders. He made 30 appearances on the field in two seasons. They parted ways before the 2024 season. He was then without a team for a long time until the New York Giants contacted the German in mid-August.

Jakob Johson has earned his way into the NFL  ©Svenja Sabatini

Up and downs with the Giants

Since then, Johnson had to go through a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Time and time again, he has bounced between being released, practice squad and active roster. In five games this season, he has played twelve offensive and 39 snaps in the special team. 

A rather small role, but one that did not come out of nowhere. In an interview with "sport.de and RTL/ntv" at the beginning of September, Johnson said: "I've definitely already been told that things could go up and down a few times this year." However, he still wants to fight: "But I want to be here. I want to be part of the team. That means I'm not running off somewhere else right now." Since the beginning of October, he is a part of the active roster again.

Let's see what roster moves still await Johnson. His long NFL journey is still not over.

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