Chad Ochocinco Johnson, born Chad Javon Johnson on January 9, 1978, is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. Known as Chad Ochocinco from 2008 to 2012, he played college football for the Santa Monica Corsairs and the Oregon State Beavers. He was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft, and played for them for 10 seasons.
Ochocinco, which means "eight five" in Spanish, was also his number. In 2012, Johnson played for the Miami Dolphins during preseason but was released following his arrest for domestic violence. He played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2014 to 2015, and played one game in 2017 for the Mexican team Fundidores de Monterrey of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA).
Johnson was born in Miami, Florida and graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School. He briefly attended Langston University. In 1997, Johnson transferred to Santa Monica College, a community college in Santa Monica, California. In 2000, Johnson transferred to Oregon State University, after being aggressively recruited by coach Dennis Erickson to play for the OSU team.
Chad Johnson with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006
Transition to Wrestling
Beyond his successful NFL career, Chad Johnson also ventured into the world of wrestling. His journey included notable achievements in collegiate and national wrestling competitions.
Read also: The Life of Chad Everett Harris
Collegiate Wrestling Career
Chad Johnson '14, a two-time NCAA Division III national champion wrestler during his Augsburg College career, placed second in the 125 kilogram (275.5 pound) weight class in the freestyle division at the USA Wrestling 2015 ASICS UWW University Nationals, held over the weekend at the University of Akron.
As a collegiate wrestler for the Auggies, Johnson was a four-time All-American, winning national titles in 2012 and 2013 at heavyweight, while finishing third in 2014 and seventh in 2011. He finished his career at 140-15, including a 108-4 record his final three seasons.
2015 USA Wrestling University Nationals
Competing for the Minnesota Storm wrestling club, Johnson reached the finals with five straight victories over current Division I opponents, opening with a 10-0, technical-fall win over University of Ohio wrestler Devin King (Bobcat Wrestling). He then topped Iowa State's Tyler Swope 8-0, and claimed a 2:25 pin of Harvard's Nicholas Gajdzik (Michigan). He blanked Columbia's Garrett Ryan (Sunkist Kids) 8-0 in the quarterfinals, then beat Nathan Butler (Stanford) 5-3 in the semifinals.
In the finals, he lost by a 10-0 technical fall to 2015 NCAA Division I heavyweight runner-up Adam Coon of Michigan. Coon had a pin and five technical-fall victories en route to the University Nationals title.
A native of Ferryville, Wis.
Read also: "Married to Evil": Chad Graves
Here’s a summary of Chad Johnson’s performance at the 2015 ASICS UWW University Nationals:
| Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Round | Devin King (University of Ohio) | Won by 10-0 Technical Fall |
| Second Round | Tyler Swope (Iowa State) | Won 8-0 |
| Third Round | Nicholas Gajdzik (Harvard/Michigan) | Won by Pin (2:25) |
| Quarterfinals | Garrett Ryan (Columbia/Sunkist Kids) | Won 8-0 |
| Semifinals | Nathan Butler (Stanford) | Won 5-3 |
| Finals | Adam Coon (Michigan) | Lost by 10-0 Technical Fall |
Johnson's transition from the football field to the wrestling mat showcases his athletic versatility and determination. His achievements in both sports highlight his dedication and competitive spirit.
How Good Was Chad Ochocinco Actually?
Read also: Vallow-Daybell Trial: Key Evidence
Popular articles:
tags: #Chad
