The 2025 season had several pleasant surprises. One of them was safety Antonio Johnson, who became a mainstay of the Jacksonville Jaguars defense. Then again, those who have closely followed his career arc aren't particularly surprised.
Johnson was coming off an underwhelming 2024 but somehow managed to turn into one of the team's top playmakers despite the fact that he began the season behind Andrew Wingard and Eric Murray. The former Texas A&M Aggie recorded five interceptions, tied for the most on the team, and posted the highest Pro Football Focus grade among safeties in the NFL. To nobody's surprise, he's garnering widespread recognition across the league.
Antonio Johnson was dubbed the Jaguars' secret super star
Zach Tantillo of PFF drew up a list of every team's secret superstar and picked Antonio Johnson for the Jags, noting that he excelled in both coverage and against the run last year.
"While the Jaguars' defense is filled with secret superstar candidates, there was no denying Johnson's impact this season," Tantillo wrote. "He established himself as the highest-graded safety in football (86.9), and his 4.8% missed tackle rate was the fourth-lowest clip among safeties. He allowed just 23 receptions for 202 yards and one touchdown while also recording five interceptions."
Before the season started, Johnson said that he had shed weight after playing heavier in 2024. That tweak, along with defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's coaching, might've been enough to help him turn things around.
Johnson appeared in all 17 games but only started nine games. He was more productive than fellow safety Andrew Wingard, even though he logged fewer defensive snaps. The East St. Louis native did get more playing time than Eric Murray, but only because the latter landed on the Injured Reserve after suffering a neck injury.
Related: Trevor Lawrence's amazing turnaround with the Jags isn't going unnoticed
Antonio Johnson may have an even bigger impact with the Jaguars in 2026
Heading into the 2023 draft, Antonio Johnson was projected to go late in the first round or early in the second. That he somehow managed to slide into the fifth was a bit shocking, but the Jaguars are surely glad that he did.
Right off the bat, Johnson flashed potential as a rookie. By 2024, he was seen as a rising talent. Looking back, his struggles that year might've been the result of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's questionable coaching. Sure, Johnson himself also had a role in his regression, but the fact that he bounced back under Campanile's guidance goes on to show just how much of a playmaker he is.
But as impressive as Johnson was in 2025, he could be even better next season. If Campanile doesn't leave for a head-coaching job, the fourth-year safety will have a great opportunity to build off of his success last year. Moreover, he's entering a contract year, so the prospect of getting a massive payday may incentivize him to take his game to the next level.
Shockingly, you won't hear Antonio Johnson's name often when discussing the top players in the NFL. But if he has another banner season and the Jaguars keep winning games, it will be impossible to ignore just how much of a game-changer he is.