Former Cardinals RB Chris Johnson formally announces retirement

After 10 years in the NFL, former Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson has formally retired from the NFL at 33 years old.

Over three seasons in Arizona from 2015 to 2017, Johnson totaled 1,023 rushing yards and four touchdowns across 19 games.

The retirement was announced via Twitter, where his agency, EAG Sports Management released an official statement written and signed by Johnson himself.

“After a great deal of thought and consideration, I have decided to close this chapter of my life and look forward to the new possibilities that have been afforded to me. I would like to thank the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals organizations, who provided me with an opportunity to play the game I love and to be part of their amazing communities.”

At his peak, Johnson was an explosive player with the ability to find gaps and exploit defenses regularly.

Though his three seasons in Arizona weren’t his best, Johnson provided a nice boost during a period of transition for the Cardinals.

Johnson’s greatest single season came in 2009, when he rushed for a league-high 2006 rushing yards which resulted in 14 touchdowns, two totals that he was unable to replicate over the following eight years of his career. He carried for over 1000 yards in six of his 10 seasons in the NFL.

As an emerging prospect, Johnson set the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine ablaze by recording the fastest 40-yard dash the league had ever seen. His 4.24 seconds was the fastest recorded at the time and was held until 2017, when Bengals receiver John Ross set the new record at 4.22 seconds.