Chad Johnson announced last week that he had been invited to try out for the XFL as a placekicker, and he originally seemed ecstatic about the opportunity. However, the former NFL star receiver decided not to attend.
Johnson was set to be evaluated on Monday along with several other potential XFL kickers, but ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports that Johnson skipped the tryout. The former NFL receiver informed the league on Sunday that he would not be attending.
Johnson, 42, said last week that he was thrilled the XFL was giving him an opportunity to showcase his skills, though he admitted it was “farfetched” that a team would sign him. He wrote on Twitter Tuesday about how excited he is to train with his son Chad Johnson Jr., who will be playing wide receiver at Arizona State.
“The thought of my son entering the draft in 2024 and me being able to train with him throughout that journey is so f—ing dope to me,” the elder Johnson wrote. “I’m still healthy & fast enough to show how it should look so there’s no excuses once you touch the field.”
It’s unclear if that was a factor in Johnson’s decision.
Johnson is a huge soccer fan, and he actually can kick. He shared a video on Instagram last month that appeared to show him converting a 60-yard field goal. He has been offering his services to NFL teams as a kicker for years, but perhaps he had second thoughts.
