Chiefs will let linebacker Derrick Johnson hit free agent market
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs have made it official that linebacker Derrick Johnson will be allowed to hit the free agent market after 13 years with the team.
Next year is, indeed, going to be a very different year for the Kansas City Chiefs in the locker room and on the field. On Tuesday, the Chiefs made it clear that they were going to move on from linebacker Derrick Johnson in 2018 and that the franchise’s all-time leading tackler was going to be allowed to enter free agency after 13 straight seasons playing at Arrowhead Stadium.
Johnson was the team’s first round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft after starring at the University of Texas. Johnson was an instant starter in the middle for the Chiefs, starting all 16 games his rookie season and showed off his ability to be a force on every down with 2 sacks, 5 passes defended and 95 total tackles.
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Over the years, Johnson grew into an elite tackling machine in the middle for the Chiefs, especially after he was challenged in an infamous showdown with former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. Haley believed that Johnson wasn’t performing up to his potential so he benched the veteran for most of the 2009 regular season. After that, Johnson went on to make his first Pro Bowl in 2011, a feat he repeated again in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
On the field, Johnson has not only flashed incredible athleticism in the middle as a great run-stopper, but he’s always been a solid pass defender as well when he drops into coverage. In addition, his leadership in the heart of the defense has been key to the Chiefs for well over a decade. In recent years, he’s added to his toughness by coming back from two separate Achilles tears to reclaim his starting role both times, including making 15 starts this last year.
Johnson played in a total of 182 regular season games for the Chiefs, including 169 starts. In his career, he holds the franchise record for tackles with 1,152 total. He’s also amassed career totals of 27.5 sacks, 23 forced fumbles, 14 interceptions and 78 passes defended.