Daniel Johnson (offensive lineman)
 Johnson with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2025 | |
| No. 65 – Saskatchewan Roughriders | |
|---|---|
| Position | Offensive lineman |
| Roster status |  1-game injured list |
| CFL status | National |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 1, 1999 Nairobi, Kenya |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 307 lb (139 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Catholic Central (London, Ontario, Canada) |
| College | Purdue |
| CFL draft | 2024: 5th round, 41st overall pick |
| Career history | |
| |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Daniel Johnson (born September 1, 1999) is a Kenyan-Canadian professional gridiron football offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Kent State and Purdue.
Early life
[edit]Daniel Johnson was born on September 1, 1999, in a refugee camp in Nairobi, Kenya.[1][2] Johnson and some of his family moved to London, Ontario, when he was one year old.[2][3] Johnson later said "I still have family back home struggling and it’s great that my family and a couple of my cousins got to come over here and live a different life than my parents did."[2] He played high school football at Catholic Central High School in London, Ontario.[1][4] As a senior in 2017, he helped the team win the London City Championship while earning Canada First Team Defense honors.[4] Canadian Football Chat ranked him the No. 9 prospect in the class of 2018.[4]
College career
[edit]Johnson first played college football for the Kent State Golden Flashes of Kent State University as an offensive lineman. He played in one game in 2018 before being redshirted.[4] He played in seven games, starting four, in 2019.[4] Johnson started three games during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.[4] He appeared in four games, starting three, in 2021.[4]
In 2022, Johnson transferred to play for the Purdue Boilermakers of Purdue University. He played in five games, starting two, during both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.[4] He suffered a torn ACL during his redshirt senior year.[3] Johnson earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the 2024 season.[4] He majored in education at Purdue.[4]
Professional career
[edit]Johnson was selected by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the fifth round, with the 41st overall pick, of the 2024 CFL draft.[1] He officially signed with the team on May 14, 2024.[5] He was moved to the practice roster on June 1, 2024, where he spent the remainder of the 2024 CFL season.[5] Johnson re-signed with the Roughriders on November 19, 2024.[5] In May 2025, head coach Corey Mace named Johnson the team's most improved player at training camp.[6] He began the 2025 season on the active roster, as a backup offensive lineman.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Johnson's brother George Johnson also played in the CFL.[1] Another brother, Alfred, played basketball at Fanshawe College and professionally in Germany.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Daniel Johnson". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Vanstone, Rob (May 15, 2025). "Johnson & Johnson: Daniel's road from refugee camp to Riderville … Micah's second line of work". Saskatchewan Roughriders. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "Daniel Johnson's road led from a refugee camp to the Riders in Saskatchewan". NortheastNow.com. June 19, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Daniel Johnson". Purdue University. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Saskatchewan Roughriders Transactions - 2024". FootballDB.com. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ "Corey Mace dubs former fifth-round CFL Draft pick Daniel Johnson 'most improved player' at Riders' training camp". 3DownNation.com. May 16, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ Palmer, Randy (June 12, 2025). "'I feel like I've gained their trust': versatile Canadian OL Daniel Johnson hoping for first CFL start with Riders against Hamilton". MooseJawToday.com. Retrieved August 19, 2025.