Former Arizona Cardinals All-Pro Running Back Announces Retirement After 8 Seasons

The Arizona Cardinals have had some promising teams in the past few decades of football. Some legends of the game, like Larry Fitzgerald, have led some quality teams to playoff runs. In the mid-2010s, the Cardinals were one of the favorites in the NFC. A big part of that was their offense which was led by running back David Johnson. Johnson announced his retirement from the league after eight seasons on Sunday.

Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson Announces Retirement

David Johnson was a third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He was not expected to have much of a role with the team but played his way to the starting role midway through the season. What made him so dangerous was his dual-threat ability. In just five starts in 2015, Johnson had 581 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, as well as 36 receptions for 457 yards and four touchdowns. He posted this message on Instagram about his retirement.

“I am blessed and very appreciative of the Cardinals drafting me in the 3rd round, and I started my NFL career hitting the ground running (literally)! Two games in, getting my uniform and cleats put in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. There’s been highs and lows, but I’ve felt very fortunate and honored by the people who’ve supported me along this journey.”

In 2016, David Johnson had a historic season for the Arizona Cardinals. He rushed for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns while also catching 80 passes for 879 yards and four touchdowns. In that season, he matched the record of Barry Sanders by having 15 straight games with over 100 yards from scrimmage. This earned him Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. Unfortunately, Johnson was never able to recreate that season.

Injuries And The Trade

In the first game of the 2017 season, David Johnson suffered a wrist injury that kept him out for the year. He had a resurgence in 2018 with over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and ten touchdowns. However, he dipped again in 2019, which led the Arizona Cardinals to trade him for DeAndre Hopkins in the offseason. In two seasons with the Texans, he didn’t rush for 1,000 yards total.

While he only spent a handful of seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, David Johnson is still a fan favorite. Fans remember the 2016 season fondly and the excitement of having a game-breaking presence in the backfield. Johnson will retire being remembered for the trade, but the 2016 season was truly special.