Safety Antonio Johnson’s presence is extremely valuable, but his impact on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense goes beyond the stat sheet.
The 2025 season was a breakout year for Johnson, sparked by his ball production. He finished the season with five interceptions and nine pass deflections.
However, Johnson also adds ample versatility to the secondary as well. Last season, Johnson played 206 snaps last season lined up in the box, 306 at deep safety, 98 from the slot, and 29 along the defensive line, per PFF.
This provides defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile with ample flexibility as he builds out game plans. That versatility allows Campanile to move Johnson around often, throwing different looks at opposing offenses, in a way, adding a level of unpredictability to the defense.
That ability also can create opportunities for others because of the variety of hats Johnson is capable of wearing.
As Campanile has explained, Johnson filling a number of roles has also given him a deep understanding of the defensive system, which has helped faciliate his growth.
Johnson will now step into a full-time starting role in 2026, following Andrew Wingard’s departure in free agency. According to John Shipley of Jaguars on SI, Johnson appears ready to take that next step after taking a big leap a year ago.
“Johnson had a strong offseason program, one in which you could clearly see the change in him from exciting depth piece to reliable veteran,” Shipley wrote.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: How Antonio Johnson’s impact on Jaguars goes beyond the stat sheet
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire | USA TODAY Network
