The D.C. Defenders acquired offensive lineman Jahmir Johnson from the Birmingham Stallions on Friday for linebacker Chauncey Rivers according to Pro Football Newsroom’s James Larsen.
Jahmir Johnson is six foot five and weighs 300 pounds. The 26-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, played eight games for the Birmingham Stallions in 2023, of which five were starts. The Stallions acquired Johnson off waivers from the New Jersey Generals on April 4, 2023.
The Stallions ranked second in passing yards (2,170), second in passing yards per game (217), first in completion percentage (67.4), first in passing touchdowns (21), third in rushing yards (1,156), third in rushing yards per game (115.6), and tied second in rushing touchdowns (11) helping the Stallions win its second straight USFL championship in 2023.
Before Birmingham, Johnson signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He would later sign with the New Jersey Generals (USFL) on August 31, 2022.
Collegiately, Johnson started as a redshirt freshman at Rhode Island in 2016 and did not see any action for the Rams. Next, Johnson transferred to Arizona Western Community College in 2017 where the Matadors averaged 465.3 total offense, 272 rushing yards, 193.3 passing yards, and 39.7 points per game. Johnson was named First Team NJCAA All-American, First Team All-Western States Football League, and First Team All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.
Then, Johnson transferred to Tennessee (2018-20) playing left guard and left tackle in 24 games for the Volunteers, of which 17 were starts. In 2020, Johnson helped Tennessee pile up a season-high 540 yards of total offense (328 passing, 212 rushing) at Vanderbilt. Johnson would finish his collegiate career at Texas A&M in 2021 playing left tackle in 11 games for the Aggies. Texas A&M’s offense had 595 yards of total offense in the season-opening win over Kent State.
Chauncey Rivers is six foot two and weighs 259 pounds. The 26-year-old from Stone Mountain, Georgia, made 16 tackles (9 solo, 7 assists), five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and three quarterback hits in ten games for the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) in 2023. The Defenders signed Rivers as a free agent on February 28, 2024.
In the playoffs, Rivers made three tackles (3 solo) against the Arlington Renegades. The Roughnecks drafted Rivers in the sixth round (45th pick) of Phase 3 of the 2023 XFL Draft.
Before Houston, Rivers signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He appeared in one game for the Ravens while spending the rest of the season on the practice squad. Next, he was acquired off waivers by the Green Bay Packers in 2021. Rivers played four games for Green Bay making two tackles (2 solo).
Collegiately, Rivers played one season at Georgia in 2015 making four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) and one tackle for loss in two games for the Bulldogs. Next, he transferred to East Mississippi Community College in 2016 making 45 tackles (25 solo, 20 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games for the Lions.
Then, Rivers transferred to Mississippi State (2017-19) making 67 tackles (32 solo, 35 assists), 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 25 games for the Bulldogs. He was named Second Team All-SEC by the Associated Press in 2019 and was a 2020 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Participant.
