Rashad Johnson enters his fifth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2026 and his first as cornerbacks coach. Johnson originally joined the team as a Bill Walsh Coaching Fellow during the 2022 offseason. He was then hired full-time as a defensive assistant following the conclusion of training camp that year before later being promoted to assistant secondary coach in 2023.
Johnson has primarily worked with the cornerbacks over his four seasons in Tampa Bay and took over the lead role with the team's nickel cornerbacks in 2023. During that span, Johnson has played a key role in the development of Christian Izien, Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and Tykee Smith.
In 2025, Parrish, the team's third-round selection, played in all 17 games for the Buccaneers as both a nickel and outside cornerback, becoming just the fourth rookie defensive back since 2010 to record 75+ tackles, multiple interceptions and multiple sacks. While assisting with the outside cornerbacks, Jamel Dean owned the league's lowest opponent passer rating when targeted in 2025 (41.3) and the second-lowest completion percentage when targeted (43.1%) among all cornerbacks with 35+ targets last season.
Under Johnson's mentorship in 2024, defensive backs Christian Izien and Tykee Smith solidified the nickel corner position, combining for 125 tackles (eight for loss), 10 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three interceptions. In just his rookie season, Smith played 13 games and was 1-of-4 players across the NFL to record three-or-more forced fumbles, five-or-more passes defensed and two-plus interceptions, joining Jessie Bates III, Zaire Franklin and Fred Warner. Smith was the first rookie to record those marks in a season since 2018. Outside corner Zyon McCollum established career highs in games started (17), defensive snaps (1,007), passes defensed (17) and interceptions (two). His 17 passes defensed tied for the third-most in the NFL, earning him a second contract in Tampa Bay.
In 2023, Johnson worked primarily with the cornerbacks, while taking the lead on the nickel corner position and mentoring undrafted defensive back Christian Izien to a share of the team lead with two interceptions in 2023. Izien became just the fourth undrafted player since 1967 with an interception in each of his first two career games. Izien was 1-of-3 undrafted players over from 2023-25 with 150+ tackles, three-or-more interceptions and three-or-more forced fumbles. Cornerback Zyon McCollum also started a career high nine games in 2023 under Johnson's coaching, ranking second on the team with nine passes defensed.
Johnson broke into coaching as a Bill Walsh Coaching Fellow with the Buccaneers during the 2022 offseason and was hired full-time as a defensive assistant following the conclusion of training camp. He contributed to a 2022 Tampa Bay defense that finished ninth in the NFL in pass defense, limiting opponents to 203.6 passing yards per game, and sixth in the league in fewest passing yards allowed per attempt (6.65). It marked the team's first season with a top 10 pass defense since 2010.
After entering the league as a third-round selection by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2009 NFL Draft, Johnson enjoyed an eight-year playing career as a defensive back for the Cardinals (2009-15) and Tennessee Titans (2016). He played in 114 career games, tallying 340 tackles, 15 interceptions, four fumble recoveries, three defensive touchdowns and two forced fumbles.
Johnson played collegiately at Alabama (2004-08), earning back-to-back first-team All-SEC honors in his final two seasons, in addition to an All-America selection his senior year. He later returned to his alma mater in 2018 as a sideline analyst for the Alabama radio network, while also serving as the director of player development (2018-20).
He is a native of Sulligent, Alabama, and resides in Tampa with his wife, Chelsea, and three kids: Hunter, Taylor and Jordan. He lives his life with a heart to inspire others through faith to become the best versions of themselves.
