Bisi Johnson

Bisi Johnson's Biography

Olabisi “Bisi” Johnson was born on March 17, 1997, to Bode and Traci Johnson in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. With Nigerian roots from his father side, Olabisi is a name of Yoruba origin, signifying “to bring prosperity to your family”. Young Johnson had the privilege of experiencing the cultural richness of his ancestral heritage through frequent visits to Nigeria to meet his extended family.

Bisi was an active child and found his passion in sports early on. Baseball was one of the many sports he played, but his attention was eventually drawn to football and track and field at Bear Creek High School, where he was a two-sport star. His stellar performance in both sports fetched him not one, not two, but three varsity letters.

Johnson’s academic prowess was just a remarkable as his sporting aptitude. He secured a commendable place in Bear Creek’s Academic Athletics Honor Roll from 2011 to 2014 and was a two-time Academic All-Colorado performer during his junior and senior years. Further embedding himself in the high school football scene, he captained the Bear Creek football program for two years, in 2013 and 2014.

His senior-year performance is still reminisced by many fellow students and football scholars as Johnson helped lead the Bears to an invigorating 7-4 record, as well as a first-round playoff win. Notably, he generated an eye-popping total offensive figure of more than 1,500 yards, including nine touchdowns and 402 yards from 25 passes. Stalwart on the defensive side as well, Bisi recorded 100 tackles, of which 74 were solo. Post-high school, Johnson chose Colorado State University (CSU) over potential scholarship options from the Army and Northern Colorado.

While football was his primary focus, Bisi was an exceptional track and field athlete, too. He set a record at Bear Creek High School with a blazing 4x100m relay time of 42.72 seconds. His name also graced the winner’s column for the 100 meters at the 2015 LPS Spring Break Duals with a time of 11.11 seconds. Furthermore, he made his mark in the 2014 Class 5A Colorado State meet, clinching wins in the 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, and the pole vault.

Transitioning to college football at CSU, Bisi appeared in 49 career games, demonstrating his dedication and durability. He was recognized as one of just 10 Rams in history to break the 2,000-yard receiving mark in a career. In the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, he set a CSU single-game record for 265 receiving yards on a career-high seven receptions, accompanied by two touchdown catches.

The year 2019 brought a milestone in Johnson’s career: he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL draft, 247th overall pick. During his rookie season with the Vikings, he served as a trusty substitute for an injured fellow wide receiver, Adam Thielen. He proved his mettle with a notable stat line of 31 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns.

However, the following season saw Johnson resting more on the bench, as newcomer Justin Jefferson was preferred as the starter, pushing Johnson to play a reserve role in the Vikings’ lineup. The 2021 season was a challenging one for Johnson as he had to sideline himself after tearing his ACL during training camp. He was placed on injured reserve after suffering the same injury, a torn ACL again, in August 2022.

Despite the setback, Johnson’s journey remains inspirational. His love for football and determination to overcome hurdles is emblematic of his character. In December 2018, he added another feather to his cap by securing his bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from CSU. Off the field, Olabisi Johnson is a shining example of a well-rounded human being, managing to juggle sport, academics and cultural activities effectively.