Skip to main content

Montreal Alouettes sign former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson

Chad Johnson last played with the Dolphins during the 2012 preseason. (Mark LoMoglio/Icon SMI)

 Chad Johnson signs deal with Montreal Alouettes of CFL

The last time we saw Chad Johnson on a professional football field was back in 2012 when he was embarrassingly released by the Miami Dolphins during their stint on HBO's Hard Knocks.

It was a swift fall from grace for Johnson, 36, who just a few seasons earlier was representing the Cincinnati Bengals in the Pro Bowl. Johnson has since been determined to return to the gridiron and has apparently done so as the man formerly known as Chad Ochocinco has signed with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. The news was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The signing comes days after Johnson worked out for the team in Florida.

MORE: 2014 NFL Mock Draft | Top QBs | Top RBs | Top WRs | SI64: Our definitive Big Board

Montreal has a history of bringing in "troubled" former NFL players like Lawrence Phillips, who eventually ended up helping the Alouettes win a Grey Cup.

Johnson will join former NFL quarterback (and Ohio State star) Troy Smith in Montreal; Smith signed a two-year deal with Montreal in 2013.

An incredibly happy Johnson was pictured signing his deal earlier this morning:

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/456853413993918464

How the two sides came together is unknown, though earlier this month Johnson tweeted at the Alouettes suggesting that he'd like to play for them.