Deandre Johnson, former Tennessee football defensive end, dies at 26

Deandre Johnson, who played four seasons with Tennessee football, has died. He was 26.

Johnson’s agent, Hector Antonio Ruiz, confirmed his death to The Palm Beach Post on Dec. 3. The cause of death could not be independently established, according to The Palm Beach Post.

"Rest in peace to my brudda Deandre Johnson," former Vols defensive lineman Kahlil McKenzie Jr. posted on X on Nov. 23. "Shining light to anyone who ever met him. I’ll miss you forever family and wish I could call you and hear your voice one more time and tell you to Bounceback just one more time."

Johnson had 4½ sacks in 2020, tied for the Tennessee team lead. The senior had 58 tackles and 10 sacks at Tennessee before he transferred to Miami in January 2021.

Johnson had a career showing in Tennessee's season-opening win at South Carolina on Sept. 26, 2020. He had six tackles and 2½ sacks with a forced fumble on one of the sacks to earn the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week award.

He made 26 tackles with 4½ sacks and a career-best 8½ tackles for loss in his lone season at Miami. He spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers after going undrafted, but did not play for either in the regular season.

Johnson played high school football at Miami Southridge.

Johnson did not play in the NFL, but he told reporters in Miami that he considered himself “blessed” to simply have the chance when the Dolphins signed him to a free-agent contract. Tennessee’s athletic website reported in 2020 that Johnson had been stabbed three times in the chest as a high schooler by a student with emotional and mental trauma. Her attack forced surgeons to drain a lung filled with blood, which left Johnson wondering if he would be able to play football again.

“I was blessed, man,” Johnson told The Palm Beach Post during a break in the Dolphins’ offseason training program. “I was minutes away from losing my life, so I’m thankful. I’m thankful for the doctors. I’m thankful for everything that lined up. Every day I wake up, it’s another opportunity.”

The Palm Beach Post contributed to this story.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Deandre Johnson, former Tennessee football defensive end, dies at 26