The Tennessee Titans announced Wednesday morning that former running back Chris Johnson will sign a one-day contract to retire with the team.
Johnson, who was selected out of East Carolina by the Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, played for the team from 2008-2013. He officially announced his retirement from the NFL in November.
He played a single season with the Jets (2014) and three seasons with the Cardinals (2015-17) after leaving Tennessee.
Johnson will be at St. Thomas Sports Park today to sign his contract ahead of the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft.
“Tennessee, that’s the first organization that gave me a chance to make my dreams come true,” Johnson said in a report by the team’s Jim Wyatt. “I have so many great memories in Tennessee and was able to do so many things with the Titans. It’s an organization I always want to be considered a part of.”
And if there’s one thing Johnson wants everyone to know, it that he’s still got the ability to play in him, even a year removed from the league.
Retirement was a choice, not something the rusher was forced into.
“I know for sure I’d get 1,000 yards if I laced them up,” he said. “Shoot, that’s not even a question. You put me in an offense where I’m the starting back, there’s no way I wouldn’t get 1,000 yards. I could still do it, but it’s time to move on to the next situation.”
Johnson finished his career with 9,651 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns. He also reeled in 307 receptions for 2,255 yards and nine scores.
