Of all the stories we’ve written, this one is one of the last ones I would have expected to be doing. Earlier this morning Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson announced that he will be attending the XFL training camp this Monday.
Johnson, 42, who last played in the NFL in 2011, tweeted on Tuesday about his upcoming workout in Houston. ESPN has confirmed the showcase is a legitimate opportunity.
“I’m excited as hell & I’m sure all will go well,” Johnson said on Twitter.
The opportunity to kick in the XFL has presented itself, i must tryout Monday in Houston, I’m excited as hell & I’m sure all will go well 🙏🏿
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) January 14, 2020
He also tweeted that he hopes it could lead to a chance to compete for a spot on an NFL roster as a kicker, saying, “Pretty far fetched but imagine me being consistent during an XFL season & getting a chance at a 53 man roster in the NFL, even i don’t make it just being able to compete for a spot at a entirely different position will be so riveting.”
He played college football for Santa Monica College and Oregon State University, and played eleven seasons in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, and the Miami Dolphins. He was drafted by the Bengals of the in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft, and played for them for 10 seasons.
In 2011, Johnson was traded to the New England Patriots, who he played for in Super Bowl XLVI. In 2012, Johnson played for the Miami Dolphins during preseason but was released following his arrest for domestic violence.
He played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2014 to 2015, and played one game in 2017 for Mexican team Monterrey Fundidores of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional. Johnson emerged as one of the NFL’s most productive wide receivers of the 2000’s and owns nearly every Bengals receiving record.
