Eric Johnson (defensive back)
Eric Duane Johnson is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
College career
Johnson played linebacker at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Professional career
NFL
Johnson played linebacker for eight seasons for the Oakland Raiders, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Arizona Cardinals, in the National Football League. Johnson is best known for blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVII, which the Raiders lost 48–21 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
AFL
Johnson was signed as a free agent by the Georgia Force on February 19, 2007. He was re-signed by the Force on June 2, 2009.
In February 2023, Johnson, along with seven other alleged gang members, were arrested in Gwinnett County, Georgia as part of what the Attorney General of Georgia called a "major human trafficking and gang case;" he pled guilty in August 2025 and was sentenced a month later to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of strict probation.