Players

PRO: (47-24/4-4): Signed his one-year restricted free agent tender on April 12, 2012…originally drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round (241^st overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

2011 (16-16/1-1): Started all 16 contests, including the lone postseason contest at FB…had 12 receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown, marking his first career touchdown…tied a career-long with a 25-yard reception vs. Baltimore…9/18 vs. Seattle: Helped block for the Steelers’ offense to gain 421 total yards…9/25 at Indianapolis: Caught his first pass of the season, a three-yarder from QB Ben Roethlisberger…helped block for the Steelers’ offense to gain 408 total yards…10/2 at Houston: Recorded one catch for six yards…helped block for a Steelers’ rushing attack to gain 118 yards on the ground…10/9 vs. Tennessee: Helped block for Steelers’ rushers to gain 174 yards…had two catches for five yards, including a one-yard touchdown, the first of his career…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Helped block for Steelers’ rushers to gain 185 yards, including RB Rashard Mendenhall’s 146 yards and one touchdown…10/23 at Arizona: Helped block for a Steelers’ offense that gained 445 total yards…11/6/ vs. Baltimore: Played in his 40^th career game, starting at FB…tied a career-long with a 25-yard reception (12/5/10 at Baltimore)…11/13 at Cincinnati: Registered one reception for six yards…helped block for the Steelers’ offense to gain 328 total yards…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Blocked for a Steelers that gained 136 yards on 33 carries (4.1 avg.)…12/8 vs. Cleveland: Finished with two receptions for 22 yards, including a long of 16 yards…helped block for Steelers’ rushers to gain 147 yards…AFC Wild Card Game 1/8 at Denver: Made his fourth consecutive postseason start at FB.   

2010 (16-5/3-3): Played in all 16 games, starting five of them at TE or FB...caught four passes for 46 yards... helped block for RB Rashard Mendenhall to gain a career-high 1,273 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns...started all three postseason games, paving the way for Steelers’ rushers to gain 121.0 yards per game on the ground...9/12 vs. Atlanta: Had a key block that allowed Mendenhall to score on a 50-yard run in overtime...9/26 at Tampa Bay: Helped block for a Steelers’ rushing attack that gained 201 yards on the ground including Mendenhall to have a season-high 143 yards rushing...10/31 at New Orleans: Caught his first pass of the season, a career-long nine-yard pass from Roethlisberger in the first quarter...11/8 at Cincinnati: Helped block for Steelers’ rushers to gain 121 yards on the ground...11/14 vs. New England: Helped block for Roethlisberger to throw for a season-high 387 yards and three touchdowns and for the offense to gain 425 yards...11/21 vs. Oakland: Helped block for the Steelers to gain a season-high 431 yards of total offense…11/28 at Buffalo: Made his first start of the season at TE...helped block for Mendenhall to gain a season-high 151 yards rushing...12/5 at Baltimore: Started at TE in place of injured Matt Spaeth...had a career-long 25-yard reception...finished with personal bests of three catches for 37 yards...12/12 vs. Cincinnati: Started at TE...helped block for Steelers’ rushers to gain 123 yards on the ground...12/19 vs. N.Y. Jets: Started at TE... helped blocked for Steelers’ rushers to gain 147 yards on the ground...12/23 vs. Carolina: Started at FB...helped block for Steelers’ rushers to gain 115 yards on the ground and for Roethlisberger to throw for 320 yards and one touchdown...AFC Divisional Game 1/15 vs. Baltimore: Played in his first career postseason game, starting at FB...helped block for the Steelers’ offense to gain 263 total yards...AFC Championship Game 1/23 vs. N.Y. Jets: Started his second career postseason contest at FB...helped block for Mendenhall to rush for 121 yards and one touchdown...Super Bowl XLV 2/6 vs. Green Bay: Started his third consecutive postseason contest at FB...helped block for Steelers’ rushers to gain 126 yards on the ground.

2009 (15-3): Played in 15 games and started three as a FB...had two receptions for nine yards...9/10 vs. Tennessee: Made his NFL debut as a reserve TE/FB and as a contributor on special teams...9/27 at Cincinnati: Made his first career start at FB before leaving the game early due to injury...10/4 vs. San Diego: Was not active for the game...10/18 vs. Cleveland: Made his second career start at FB and was a contributor on special teams...10/25 vs. Minnesota: Caught his first career pass for four yards...11/22 at Kansas City: Caught one pass for five yards...11/29 at Baltimore: Made his third career start at FB.

COLLEGE: Lettered all four seasons at Arkansas State…graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. 2008: Phil Steele’s 2008 Preseason third-team All-Sun Belt Conference...finished the season with 22 receptions for 356 yards with five touchdowns...played in 12 games with nine starts. 2007: Phil Steele’s Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference...caught 10 passes for a career-high 204 yards and three touchdowns. 2006: Started all 12 games...recorded 13 receptions for 200 yards and one touchdown...caught a pass in nine games and tallied multiple receptions in three outings...averaged 15.4 yards per reception, the most among all players with at least 10 catches. 2005: Played in 12 games as a true freshman but did not record a catch.

PERSONAL: Attended Pine Bluff High School (Pine Bluff, Ark)...caught 20 passes and two touchdowns as a senior...primarily used as a blocker, but runs a 4.7 second 40-yard dash...two-year letterman...helped his team to a 10-3 record...all-state pick as a senior and two-time all-conference...played baseball as well...son of Lois and David Johnson...Full name: David Johnson.