Duke Johnson Announces NFL Retirement After 8 Seasons with Browns, Dolphins, More

zach bacharContributor IMay 5, 2024

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Veteran running back Duke Johnson announced his decision to retire from the NFL on Sunday.

Johnson spent eight years in the NFL and played for the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. He last appeared in a game with the Bills during Week 10 of the 2022 season.

The 30-year-old was a former third-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft after becoming the all-time leading rusher for the Miami Hurricanes.

“I want to thank each team for giving me the chance to play and represent your organization and all the fans that supported me through the highs and lows,” he wrote in the caption. “Thanks to all my vets who were able to show me the ropes free of charge and all my little bros who trusted me to be that veteran that you can depend on, that really meant a lot to me.”

Johnson operated as a dual-threat running back for the Browns and Texans as part of a committee approach, recording at least 400 receiving yards in each of his first five seasons in the league. He racked up a career-high 1,041 scrimmage yards with Cleveland during his 2017 campaign.

As part of his retirement announcement, Johnson reflected on his impressive collegiate career and wrote that he “never dreamed” of becoming the all-time rushing leader at his “dream school.”

The Miami native spent three years with the Hurricanes, including his breakout 2014 season. Although the team finished with a record of 6-7, Johnson rushed for 1,652 yards and 10 touchdowns on 242 carries while adding another 421 yards as a receiver.

He finished his NFL career with 2,265 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground to go along with an average of 4.3 yards per attempt.