He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 1995 NFL draft with the 57th overall pick.
[5] In an interview with USA Today in 2005, Johnson indicated he would know the opposing team's private signals or audibles prior to the game in order to have a competitive advantage.
He placed some blame on his former coach Bill Belichick for pressuring him to participate in full contact practice drills three days after suffering a concussion in an exhibition game against the New York Giants in August 2002.
Johnson reported that during the drills, he suffered a second concussion, and he argues that Belichick asked him to participate against the advice of the team's head trainer.
[9] However, in a February 14, 2007 interview on the Dennis and Callahan Show on WEEI, Johnson claimed he wasn't being serious when he said that, and in fact stated he said it sarcastically.
[10][11] On January 28, 2009, he discussed his problems with concussions sustained during his pro football career and the impact it had on his life in a CNN article.