Collin Johnson Retires from NFL, Pursues Master’s Degree

Former Giants wide receiver Collin Johnson is stepping away from professional football to pursue a master’s degree at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. He shared the news on his Instagram account on Thursday.

The 28-year-old player had an NFL career spanning four years, including time with the Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears.

“Football has shaped my life in ways that words cannot express,” he expressed in his Instagram post. He emphasized that the sport taught him invaluable lessons in faith, discipline, resilience, leadership, and competition. Johnson also expressed gratitude to his coaches and teammates.

In a follow-up post, he mentioned that football “changed my life” and thanked everyone who contributed to his journey.

During his only completely healthy season with the Giants in 2021, Johnson played in 12 games, making 11 catches for 105 yards. Over four seasons in the NFL, he participated in a total of 38 games, starting one. His career stats show 31 receptions for 394 yards and two touchdowns.

Johnson also indicated in his retirement announcement that he plans to focus on Beyond Sports, a platform he co-founded aimed at helping current and former athletes build their own businesses. “Athletes have traditionally been seen as just supporters of others’ companies,” he noted, emphasizing the potential for them to become founders and owners themselves.

Prior to his professional career, Johnson played college football at Texas, where he showcased his talent in 44 games, accumulating 38 catches for 559 yards and 15 touchdowns.