Micah Johnson has officially transitioned from player to coach in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The seasoned defensive lineman announced his retirement from playing after 13 years in the league on Monday, but he will continue his association with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as their new defensive line coach.
The 37-year-old concluded his playing career on a high note, contributing to Saskatchewan”s victory in the 2025 Grey Cup. Standing at six feet one inch and weighing 255 pounds, Johnson had a standout season last year, making 20 tackles, including two for loss, and recording six sacks, which earned him a spot as a league all-star for the second consecutive year.
Johnson”s journey with the Roughriders is marked by three separate stints with the team, having previously played for Saskatchewan in 2019 and 2021 before rejoining them in 2023. He began his CFL journey with the Calgary Stampeders from 2013 to 2018, and also had a brief tenure with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021. Although he signed with the B.C. Lions as a free agent in 2020, the season was canceled due to the global pandemic.
In his illustrious career, Johnson secured two Grey Cup championships with Calgary in 2014 and 2018. Over his time in the league, he appeared in 178 regular-season games, accumulating 309 tackles, two special teams tackles, 71 sacks, two interceptions, and six forced fumbles. His impressive performance earned him recognition as a CFL all-star five times and as a division all-star on seven occasions.
This report was initially published by The Canadian Press on January 5, 2026. Johnson”s transition from player to coach marks a new chapter in his career, and fans will undoubtedly be eager to see how he shapes the next generation of talent on the Roughriders” defensive line.
