Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2024
- Class:
- 2014
Agile and known for his strong running ability, David Johnson carved out space on the gridiron on his way to becoming one of UNI's all-time great running backs. His speed and power immediately translated from the college playing fields to the professional stadiums in the NFL.
A native of Clinton, Iowa, Johnson arrived at UNI in 2010 and worked to become a dominant back in the Panthers' potent running game. After redshirting his freshman year, Johnson recorded 822 rushing yards in his first season on the field, helping fuel a balanced running attack in UNI's 2011 co-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) championship season and a trip to the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs.
Johnson took the reins as the Panthers' lead back starting in 2012, recording the first of three straight seasons of over 1,000 rushing yards, gradually improving each season. His speed and power flourished by his senior year in 2014, where he rewrote the record books with a historic season. Kicking off his senior campaign with 203 receiving yards in the season-opener at Iowa, Johnson set new single-season school records for rushing yards (1,553), total touchdowns scored (20) and all-purpose yards (2,527), where he led the MVFC and ranked third nationally. He also tied a UNI single-game postseason record with four touchdowns against Stephen F. Austin in the 2014 playoff opener.Â
Johnson held 15 school records at the time of his graduation, finishing his collegiate career as UNI's all-time leading rusher (4,687 yards) and scorer (384 points), as well as its career rushing touchdown (49) all-purpose yards leader (6,859).
Selected 86th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFL Draft, Johnson made an immediate impact to begin his professional career, becoming the first player in league history to score a rushing, receiving and kickoff return touchdown in each of his first two games, a feat that earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With over 500 rushing yards as a rookie, Johnson helped the Cardinals tie a franchise record with 13 wins and reach the doorstep of the Super Bowl with an NFC Championship Game appearance.
In his second season in Arizona, Johnson continued to make his mark, starting all 16 games in 2016 and leading the NFL with 2,118 all-purpose yards. Tying a league record held by Barry Sanders with 100+ all-purpose yards in 15 straight games to begin the season, Johnson finished third in voting for the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Johnson joined the Houston Texans during the 2020 offseason, and later the New Orleans Saints before retiring from football in May 2024. He currently resides in Houston, Texas with his wife Meghan and their three children.
