Michael Johnson (safety)

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Short description Template:Template other Michael Johnson (born May 9, 1984) is an American former professional football safety. He was selected by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft and was also a member of the Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Arizona.

College career

Johnson played in 21 games with 14 starts at Arizona after transferring from Tyler Junior College. Was credited with 107 tackles (75 solo) and had 5 interceptions, 5.5 tackles for losses, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. In 2006, started all 10 games in which he played at strong safety, he earned All-Pac-10 2nd-team honors and finished 5th on the team with 47 tackles (35 solo), including 1 stop for a 7-yard loss. He caused and recovered 1 fumble, deflected 4 passes and intercepted another.

Professional career

New York Giants

He was a seventh round (224th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2007, and wore jersey number 43. Johnson joined Aaron Ross, Steve Smith, Jay Alford, Zak DeOssie, Kevin Boss, Adam Koets, and Ahmad Bradshaw as 2007 Giants draft choices who contributed in their rookie season for the Giants Super Bowl XLII win. In the NFC Championship that season against the Green Bay Packers, Johnson made a critically important play late in the 4th quarter: Fellow Giant R. W. McQuarters fumbled a punt return, and as Packer Jarrett Bush wrapped his hands around the ball to recover it, Johnson dove in and punched the ball out of Bush's hands. The fumble was eventually recovered by fellow Giant Domenik Hixon, and they went on to win the game in overtime.

In 2008, Johnson switched to number 20. Originally sought to be a temporary holder of the free safety position until first rounder Kenny Phillips was ready, Johnson held on to a starting spot all season, playing games at both free safety and strong safety. He finishing the regular season second on the team with 88 total tackles and two interceptions.

He became an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season, picked up by the Detroit Lions.

Detroit Lions

On August 10, 2011, Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions. He was released on August 29, 2011.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2007	NYG	16	5	25	23	2	0.0	3	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0
2008	NYG	16	16	72	47	25	1.0	2	2	18	0	18	4	0	1	0	0
2009	NYG	15	14	59	46	13	1.0	6	1	0	0	0	4	0	1	0	0
2010	NYG	2	0	3	1	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
		49	35	159	117	42	2.0	11	3	18	0	18	10	1	2	0	0

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2007	NYG	4	0	4	3	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
2008	NYG	1	1	5	5	0	0.0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
		5	1	9	8	1	0.0	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0

Personal life

Born in Austin, Texas, Johnson attended Pflugerville High School. He is the younger brother of former Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown.