From Champion to Coach: Micah Johnson Retires
Published on January 5, 2026 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Saskatchewan Roughriders News Release
After 13 seasons of disrupting CFL offences, defensive lineman Micah Johnson is calling it a career. Known league-wide for his power, consistency and leadership in the trenches, Johnson built a career that included three Grey Cup championships, five All-CFL selections and seven divisional All-CFL nods. He retires as one of the most respected interior defenders of his era.
Johnson's professional football journey began in 2010, when he made his NFL regular-season debut with the Miami Dolphins. After spending time in the NFL, he made the move north in 2013 and quickly found his footing in the Canadian game, beginning his CFL career with the Calgary Stampeders. During his time in Calgary, Johnson developed into one of the league's premier defensive tackles, earning multiple All-CFL recognitions and playing a key role in several Grey Cup runs, including championship wins in 2014 and 2018. All told, Johnson spent six seasons (2013-2018) and played in 81 games with the Stampeders, recording 158 defensive tackles, 41 sacks and two interceptions while winning two of his three Grey Cup championships.
From there, Johnson's career brought him to Saskatchewan as a marquee free-agent signing in 2019. He played 80 games in Green and White over five seasons (2019, 2021, 2023-25), including back-to-back All-CFL seasons (2024 and 2025). Last season, Johnson defied age and became the first 37-year-old defensive player in league history to earn All-CFL distinction. He registered six sacks for the second consecutive season while anchoring one of the league's most formidable run defences, adding 20 defensive tackles (including two for a loss). In 2024, he suited up for all 18 games, posting 28 defensive tackles, four tackles for loss, and six sacks.
In addition to his leadership role on the defensive line, Johnson took on expanded responsibilities beginning in 2024, stepping in as an emergency offensive lineman during the Labour Day Classic and playing two-and-a-half quarters at right guard. He also played a key role on the Club's short-yardage unit in 2025, helping quarterback Tommy Stevens convert 33 of 36 short-yardage rushes during the regular season for a conversion rate of 91.7 per cent. Johnson also cleared a path for the first of Stevens' two touchdown runs during the 2025 Grey Cup win.
Before returning to the Roughriders in 2023, Johnson spent the 2022 season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, appearing in 16 regular season games and recording 24 defensive tackles (five for a loss), and seven sacks. All told, Johnson retires having appeared in 177 regular season games across three teams, tallying 309 defensive tackles and 71 sacks.
But Johnson's impact cannot be measured by statistics alone. Routinely commanding double- and even triple-team attention, he consistently freed up teammates to make plays of their own. Most recently, this influence helped the Club rank third in the CFL in sacks in 2025 and second in the West in sacks in 2024.
Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Johnson has long been known for his work ethic and football intellect. He also joined the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation as a Player Ambassador, travelling across the province to teach students the importance of mental wellness and literacy through the Win with Wellness and Rider Reading programs, work he will continue through the 2025 off-season.
Johnson and his family, who moved to Regina full time in 2023, will remain in Green and White as he begins the next chapter of his football career as the Club's Defensive Line Coach.
Canadian Football League Stories from January 5, 2026
- Jarious Jackson Joins Stamps Coaching Staff - Calgary Stampeders
- Riders Add Two on Defence - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Argos Ink American OL Marcus Harper II - Toronto Argonauts
- Alexander Hollins Is Back and Als Add a Running Back - Montreal Alouettes
- Blue Bombers Re-Sign Veteran Defensive Lineman Tanner Schmekel - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Lions Extend Versatile Offensive Lineman Chris Schleuger Though 2027 - B.C. Lions
- Stamps Add Pair of Receivers - Calgary Stampeders
- Tiger-Cats Extend All-CFL Veteran Defensive Back Stavros Katsantonis - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- From Champion to Coach: Micah Johnson Retires - Saskatchewan Roughriders
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