Collin Johnson Hung Up His Cleats for MIT Sloan and an Athlete-Built Venture, and Every Player Should Take Notes
Woah, big news dropping this Thursday! Former NFL wide receiver Collin Johnson, just 28 years old, announced he’s officially stepping away from the gridiron. But get this, he’s not taking it easy. Johnson is gearing up to enroll at MIT Sloan this fall to pursue his MBA, and he’s not stopping there. He’s also launching a venture-building program for athletes! Talk about an epic pivot, right?
From Harvard Executive to Founders Academy: Johnson's Off-Field Playbook is Next Level
Seriously, this isn't some spur-of-the-moment decision. Johnson has been laying the groundwork for a while. Back last June, he completed the Harvard Business School Executive Program, focusing on business, entertainment, media, and sports. The guy is clearly preparing for a massive second act. Now, he’s partnering with MITdesignX to launch something called Founders Academy. He took to X to share his vision, saying, "As I move into this next chapter, I'm excited to continue building Beyond-Sports by launching Founders Academy in partnership with MITdesignX a venture-building program created for current and former professional athletes building real businesses. For a long time, athletes have been seen as endorsers of other people's companies. I believe we can be the founders, operators, investors, and owners behind them too." That’s the kind of forward-thinking, athlete-empowering move we love to see!
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiFrom the Field to the Classroom: A Look Back at His Gridiron Days
Johnson last played in the NFL in 2024, marking the end of a four-season career. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him out of Texas in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He really showed out in his rookie season with the Jags, hitting career highs with 18 catches, 272 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in 14 games. After that, he reeled in 11 catches for 105 yards in 12 games, including one start, with the New York Giants. His final stop was with the Chicago Bears, where he had two catches for 17 yards across 12 games over two seasons. Even as he moves on, Johnson is clear about football’s impact. He wrote on X, "Football has shaped my life in more ways than I can put into words. It taught me faith, discipline, resilience, leadership, and how to compete at the highest level. I'm thankful for every teammate, coach, organization, and person who helped me along the way."
It's always wild to see players transition to their next chapter, but Johnson isn't just walking away from the game, he's building something that could change the future for a ton of other athletes. What an incredible path he's blazing. Can't wait to see the real businesses that come out of Founders Academy!
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.