December 5, 2025

NFL Beast

Only The Best

Former Cardinals cornerback Johnathan Joseph announced his retirement after 15 NFL seasons

2 min read
NFL: Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Johnathan Joseph is hanging up the cleats as he announced his retirement from the NFL after 15 seasons.

Joseph was the 24th overall selection out of South Carolina by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2006 draft. After playing the first five seasons of his professional football career with the Bengals (2006-10), he signed a five-year $49 million contract with the Houston Texans (2011-19) and proceeded to play for them for nine seasons. He spent time with the Titans and Cardinals last year. Filled in admirably for Byron Murphy and Dre Kirkpatrick when they were out.

In Joseph’s 15-year NFL career, he made 192 regular season starts (211 games). He is a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Second-Team All-Pro (2011, 2015). Joseph had 787 tackles, 32 interceptions, 200 passes defensed, and eight returned touchdowns (stats from Pro Football Reference) over the last two decades.

His 200 passes defensed is the second-most since 1999 behind Hall of Famer Champ Bailey.

To Johnathan Joseph, congratulations on retirement and a phenomenal 15 memorable years in the NFL. Cheers and best of luck to next chapter in your life!

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Johnathan Joseph is hanging up the cleats as he announced his retirement from the NFL after 15 seasons.

Joseph was the 24th overall selection out of South Carolina by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2006 draft. After playing the first five seasons of his professional football career with the Bengals (2006-10), he signed a five-year $49 million contract with the Houston Texans (2011-19) and proceeded to play for them for nine seasons. He spent time with the Titans and Cardinals last year. Filled in admirably for Byron Murphy and Dre Kirkpatrick when they were out.

In Joseph’s 15-year NFL career, he made 192 regular season starts (211 games). He is a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Second-Team All-Pro (2011, 2015). Joseph had 787 tackles, 32 interceptions, 200 passes defensed, and eight returned touchdowns (stats from Pro Football Reference) over the last two decades.

His 200 passes defensed is the second-most since 1999 behind Hall of Famer Champ Bailey.

To Johnathan Joseph, congratulations on retirement and a phenomenal 15 memorable years in the NFL. Cheers and best of luck to next chapter in your life!

About The Author

Leave a Reply

You may have missed