NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Mountain Lions Ink Quarterback

September 19, 2012 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Sacramento Mountain Lions News Release


SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Quarterback Josh Johnson, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers, has signed a contract to play with the Sacramento Mountain Lions for the 2012 United Football League season.

Johnson was drafted by the Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of the University of San Diego. He spent four seasons in Tampa Bay, seeing his first game action on Sept. 27, 2009, when he replaced injured starter Byron Leftwich. In 2009, at the age of 23, Johnson completed 50.4% of his passes and threw for four touchdowns. He also rushed for 148 yards on 22 attempts for a 6.7 yards-per-carry average.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play and win some football games," Johnson said. "It's an opportunity for me to remain game-ready. I look at it as a great opportunity."

In his NFL career, he has appeared in 26 games, including five starts. He's completed 96-of-177 pass attempts (54.2%) for 1,042 yards and five touchdowns. He has 37 career rushing attempts for 254 yards-an average of 6.9 yards per carry.

"I like what (head coach Turk Schonert) has in place with his system. It seems like something I can learn and pick up on pretty quickly. He gives us an opportunity to play fast as an offense," Johnson said.

Johnson signed a two-year pact with the San Francisco 49ers in March of 2012 to play for Jim Harbaugh, who coached Johnson at the University of San Diego. Five months later, Johnson was one of 21 players cut by the 49ers to trim the roster down to 53 prior to the NFL regular season.

"Josh brings NFL experience, a play-making ability with his arm, his legs and his head," Schonert said. "As a quarterback you have to be a cerebral player out there and he brings all three. To me, he's a triple-threat. He's a local kid, he's got family in the Bay Area."

"It's an exciting time for him, it's an exciting time for his family and it's an exciting time for us here in Sacramento."

Johnson, now 26, will enter the 2012 UFL season as the starting quarterback for the Mountain Lions.

2012 Mountain Lions tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com or at Raley Field's Round Table Pizza Ticket Office. The team's season-opener is set for 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28 at Raley Field.

• Discuss this story on the United Football League message board...

United Football League Stories from September 19, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Sacramento Mountain Lions Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central