D’Ernest Johnson’s path to Super Bowl 60 epitomized the twin trademarks of his seven-year NFL career: resilience and persistence.
The 2014 Immokalee High School graduate started the 2025 season on the Baltimore Ravens‘ practice squad before being cut in September and picked up by Arizona. He played in just one game for the Cardinals before being released in late October.
Jan 4, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back D’Ernest Johnson (34) returns the opening kickoff against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
One day later, the New England Patriots signed Johnson. He was on the active roster for eight of the team’s final 10 regular-season games, finishing with 14 carries for 25 yards as a reserve running back.
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Johnson also carved out a role as a sure-handed special-teams player for the Patriots, returning five kickoffs for 128 yards. Four of those returns came in New England’s playoff wins over the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos.
That willingness to do whatever is necessary for a team is why Johnson is on the cusp of becoming the latest Southwest Florida product to compete for pro football’s biggest prize. It’s also an attribute that dates back to his time at Immokalee, according to former Indians’ head coach Rich Dombroski.
Southwest Florida and the Super Bowl: Many local NFL products have played in the Big Game
“He was the ultimate team guy, always put the team above himself,” said Dombroski, who coached Johnson for his senior season in 2013, and is now an assistant football coach at Golden Gate. “D’Ernest would be the first man on the field warming up and the last to leave. As a coach, it gives you a sense of pride, like this kid gets it.
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“Everbody wants to walk around and say, I’m going to be a starter. I’m going to get to the NFL. But not everybody wants to work for it. De’Ernest he worked for it.”
D’Ernest Johnson (far right), now with the New England Patriots, poses during National Signing Day 2014, when he was a senior at Immokalee High School and committed to the University of South Florida. Behind him is Rich Dombroski, the Immokalee coach during the 2013 season. Also with him are (left to right), JC Jackson, Jimmy Bayes and Johnson Louigene. Naples Daily News file photo
Johnson, listed as a four-star recruit as a senior, rushed for 1,855 yards and scored 28 touchdowns in his varsity career with the Indians. At the University of South Florida, he finished as the school’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 4,186, including 1,796 career rushing yards, and scored 29 touchdowns. He also set USF career records for a running back with 73 receptions for 909 yards.
Despite those accolades, Johnson was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. The next year, he played eight games with the Orlando Apollos of the short-lived Alliance of American Football, rushing for 372 yards and catching 22 passes for 220 yards.
Cleveland Browns running back D’Ernest Johnson (30) of Immokalee runs the ball while Indianapolis Colts cornerback Pierre Desir (35) defends in the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In May 2019, Johnson signed with Cleveland Browns and made the team out of training camp. He spent four seasons with the team, setting career-highs in 2021 with 534 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
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In 2023, Johnson signed with Jacksonville, where in two seasons with the Jaguars, he rushed for 251 yards.
Now, Johnson stands just one game away from becoming the eighth Southwest Florida product to win a Super Bowl ring.
D’Ernest Johnson #34 of the New England Patriots returns a punt during the second quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 28, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“If you think about his career path, he didn’t take no for an answer,” Dombroski said. “His whole mentality was being determined. Nothing is going to stop me.
“Just him getting on the field for four or five plays with special teams, it’s a proud moment because of how hard he worked to get there. Now he’s reaping those benefits and gets to play in the biggest game.”
Southwest Florida players in the Super Bowl
Includes Lee, Collier, and LaBelle
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*Won Super Bowl
*Deion Sanders (North Fort Myers), San Francisco 49ers, 1995
*Deion Sanders (North Fort Myers), Dallas Cowboys, 1996
Jevon Kearse (North Fort Myers), Tennessee Titans, 2000
*Martin Grammatica (LaBelle), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2003
*Greg Spires (Mariner), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2003
Jevon Kearse (North Fort Myers), Philadelphia Eagles, 2005
Edgerrin James (Immokalee), Arizona Cardinals, 2009
*Terrence Cody (Riverdale), Baltimore Ravens, 2013
Matt Prater (Estero), Denver Broncos, 2014
Tre Boston (North Fort Myers), Carolina Panthers, 2016
De’Vondre Campbell (Cypress Lake), Atlanta Falcons, 2017
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*Jaylen Watkins (Cape Coral), Philadelphia Eagles, 2018
*JC Jackson (Immokalee), New England Patriots, 2019
*Sammy Watkins (South Fort Myers), Kansas City Chiefs, 2020
Sammy Watkins (South Fort Myers), Kansas City Chiefs, 2021
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: D’Ernest Johnson of Immokalee advances to NFL Super Bowl with Patriots