Raiders’ Jakob Johnson an unofficial German ambassador at the Super Bowl

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023 | 2 a.m.

Raiders fullback Jakob Johnson is applying the same intensity he used to block Josh Jacobs into the record books this past season to assist in growing football in his native Germany.

The 28-year-old returned home to Stuttgart, Germany, shortly after his first season in Las Vegas but returned stateside earlier this month to attend the Pro Bowl and now the Super Bowl. He’s trying his hand at media, commentating and helping German-language speaking outlets cover the events.

“It comes with being an international guy,” Johnson said during Super Bowl festivities last week. “You’ve got a responsibility toward the next generation of football players in your country to do the most you can to promote the sport. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for (past German NFL players) Marcus Kuhn and Seabastian Vollmer, and now I have to give back. That’s kind of how it works.”

Johnson is a product of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, which started in 2016 as a way to get foreign players practice-squad roles on NFL teams that they can turn into active roster spots. He was one of the first success stories of the initiative, getting elevated to the New England Patriots’ roster early in 2019 shortly after completing the program by training at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

He's been then Patriots offensive coordinator/current Raiders coach Josh McDaniels’ fullback ever since. McDaniels somewhat controversially cut former team-captain fullback Alec Ingold upon taking the job in Las Vegas to bring in Johnson.

The move seemed to work, however, as Jacobs regularly credited Johnson’s blocking as part of a career season that saw him run for 1,653 yards, the most in the NFL and the second-most in Raiders’ history.   

“He’s not out there every play, but the plays he is out there, he gives us everything he has,” McDaniels said of Johnson earlier this season.

Johnson will be an unrestricted free agent going into next season, but there’s a good chance he’ll be back given how highly McDaniels has always spoken of him.

He’s not ruling out other teams, but made it clear his media foray is nothing more than an offseason interest at this point. Johnson still wants to play.

“There’s lots of guys in (the Raiders’) locker room that I’d go to war with any time,” Johnson said. “You know how free agency and all that stuff works though. We’ll have some news in March, and I hope I get to suit up again in whatever jersey, but I really enjoyed playing with those guys.”

Johnson couldn’t help but feel inspired at the Super Bowl, especially considering he has three close friends on the Eagles. Defensive end Derek Barnett was a college teammate at Tennessee, while tackle Jordan Mailata and defensive end Matt Leo are fellow International Pathway Program graduates.

Mailata, who broke out as one of the best linemen in the NFL this season, was one of 10 Eagles with a podium for the Super Bowl’s media night, but he jumped down to embrace Johnson and pose for a photograph with him.

“We all went through the same program there in Florida or Arizona for some and had the same kinds of challenges,” Johnson explained of the bond between International Pathway Program players. “Adapting to America, adjusting to the NFL and not being sure if you’re going to fit in. Then to see it work out is very exciting.”

Football is booming in Germany. The NFL brought its first game ever to Munich earlier this year and received three million ticket applications ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 21-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at FC Bayern’s Allianz Arena.

Johnson couldn’t be happier about the growth, and wants to make sure it’s not short-lived. He’s mentoring German players including Marcel Dabo, who played for the same youth team that introduced Johnson to the game nearly a decade ago. Dabo, a defensive back, participated in the 2022 International Pathway Program and made the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad as a defensive back.

Johnson speaks with as much pride about the success of fellow German players like Dabo as he does his own career.  

“I’m just trying to leave the thing better than where I found it and trying to expand the game,” Johnson said.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or