Patrick Johnson Returns to Eagles After Unusual Super Bowl Journey

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Patrick Johnson‘s journey in the NFL has taken many turns. After spending training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles and making the 53-man roster last year, he found himself watching from the sidelines as his former team won the Super Bowl.

Last year’s season opener saw Johnson playing 26 special teams snaps in a victory against the Green Bay Packers. However, he was released shortly after to make space for backup center Nick Gates, with the intent of signing him back to the practice squad. Instead, the New York Giants claimed him.

Throughout the season, Johnson observed the Eagles, his original team, from afar as they triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. “Since the Eagles played a lot of prime-time games, I was able to watch pretty much every single game,” he said, highlighting that he kept in touch with former teammates.

In March, as free agency began, the Eagles signed Johnson back on a one-year deal worth $1.275 million. Now in his fifth training camp with Philadelphia, Johnson reflects positively on his time with the Giants despite their disappointing 3-14 record. He noted, “It ended up being a solid year for me. I got a chance to go over there to New York and got to play a lot of ball.”

With the Giants, Johnson focused mainly on special teams, logging 263 snaps, compared to just 46 on defense. He expressed pride in receiving a Super Bowl ring, even after a challenging season, saying, “I was super excited. Since I got to play the first game of the year with the team, I got a ring.”

Now returning to the Eagles, Johnson, 27, is one of the oldest players on the defense, having been drafted in the seventh round back in 2021. He is considered a strong candidate for a roster spot, emphasizing the importance of preseason games to showcase his abilities. “Going into the preseason games, you have to do everything that you can,” he said.

With a preseason matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals approaching, Johnson is ready to fight for his position. “The more you can do, the better. That’s all you can do,” he concluded.