Former Bengals star Chad Ochocinco Johnson hints he’s joining an NFL staff: ‘I got a job with the Raiders’
Former Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Chad Johnson has made his way to Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
Johnson has not caught a pass in an NFL game since 2011, but on Wednesday he suggested that he may be returning to the league. During an Instagram Live, Johnson declared that he “got a job” with the Las Vegas Raiders. The specific nature of the possible opportunity remain unclear.
“Yes, I got a job with the Raiders,” Johnson initially said on Instagram Live, per Sports Illustrated’s Fan Nation. “Not as a staff member but as a member of the organization. I’m not sure what it is exactly… but I will be a part of the team and that’s an amazing thing.”
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Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Johnson wrote on X that he would “ask for a job with the Raiders” during an apparent dinner with Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.
“Having dinner with Antonio Pierce & I’m going to ask for a job with the Raiders in some capacity to help diversify my portfolio/resume, this would be my 39th job if all goes well,” Johnson wrote along with a praying hands emoji.
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Less than an hour later, Johnson made another post seemingly announcing that he was joining the Raiders coaching staff.
“I’m officially a member of the Raiders coaching staff,” Johnson wrote.
Johnson also shared screenshots of a text message exchange with an unidentified person who appeared to not to believe he “got hired.”
Pierce then seemed to confirm Johnson’s claim by replying to Johnson’s post by saying, “Put me in coach.” Before later suggesting that the Raiders were “Taking over the NFL with former players like 85 … coaching up 17.”
The “17” is likely a reference to Raiders wide receiver Davante Adam’s jersey number. The Athletic’s Vic Tafur reported that Johnson could be named as a team consultant.
Johnson has previously made claims on social media related to the Raiders that were ultimately never proved to be true. A few years ago, Johnson stated that he had completed a tryout with the Raiders. But the team ultimately denied that a tryout had taken place.
Johnson has never officially worked as a coach at the NFL level, although he had a short stint helping the Cleveland Browns receivers during training camp in 2016.
Johnson was named to six Pro Bowls during his standout 11-year playing career. He is a member of the Bengals Ring of Honor and finished his professional football career with 11,059 receiving yards.
Since leaving the NFL, he has made appearances on reality television, made an attempt at a professional soccer career, and currently co-hosts the “Nightcap” podcast with Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.
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