Collin Johnson has put away his cleats for good. The former wide receiver retired from the NFL and is pursuing a master’s degree in business at MIT Sloan.

“Former wide receiver Collin Johnson announced that he is retiring from the NFL and enrolling at MIT Sloan this fall to pursue his MBA,” NFL insider Adam Schefter shared on May 21 in an X post. 

Johnson, already wearing an MIT sweatshirt, first shared this news. He gave an update on his plans, which have kept him engaged these days.

“As I move into this next chapter, I’m excited to continue building Beyond-Sports by launching Founders Academy in partnership with MITdesignX — a venture-building program created for current and former professional athletes building real businesses,” he wrote on his Instagram. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars picked Johnson, a Texas Longhorn wide receiver, in the fifth round as the 165th overall pick. In 2020, he played 14 games in his rookie season and made 18 receptions for 272 receiving yards. He scored two touchdowns. 

The 28-year-old then played in 12 games for the New York Giants before joining the Chicago Bears for the next two, passive seasons. Serving as a depth receiver, Johnson made three receptions for 17 receiving yards in the 12 games he played for the franchise.

That was the last time football fans saw him on the gridiron. Johnson announced his retirement after a short six-season career. 

“...I’ve made the decision to retire from the NFL,” he shared on May 22. “Football has shaped my life in more ways than I can put into words.”

Johnson is now building a life shaped by football that goes beyond it, for himself and others.

Collin Johnson Shares His Future Goals

Collin Johnson has retired from the NFL and is starting at MIT Sloan this fall. While sharing this milestone with fans, he laid out the motive behind his move.

“For a long time, athletes have been seen as endorsers of other people’s companies. I believe we can be the founders, operators, investors, and owners behind them too,” he wrote in his farewell post on May 22.

Johnson, a former wide receiver, is the founder and CEO of Beyond Sport, an athlete development platform. According to Johnson’s LinkedIn, he is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program. 

Through Beyond-Sports, Johnson has collaborated with MIT DesignX, the NFLPA, and his former team, the Chicago Bears, and many others. Johnson shared he is excited for the next chapter and is already on it.

What are your thoughts on this move? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar