Like many sports leagues around the world, the XFL has been put on hold due to COVID-19. The league has canceled its season and will allow players to immediately sign with NFL teams.
Several former Broncos were playing in the league, including linebacker Steven Johnson. After the coronavirus forced the XFL to prematurely end its season, Johnson reacted to the news on Twitter.
“I’m low key hurting,” Johnson tweeted with a broken heart emoji on Thursday. “I just wanna play football! I never cared how tired, how hurt, or how sick I was. Ever since I was 5 I just wanted to play! Lord willing I’ll get another shot soon! @xfl2020 THANK YOU!”
Johnson (6-0, 239 pounds) led all XFL defenders with 48 tackles this spring. He totaled a whopping 14 tackles in a 24-12 loss to Dallas in Week 3. Johnson was a starter for the Seattle Dragons in the XFL.
He spent six years in the NFL, including three seasons in Denver.
Johnson featured on special teams for the Broncos and stepped up in 2014, totaling 32 tackles and half a sack in seven starts. He last played in the NFL in 2017 with the Ravens. Before joining the XFL, Johnson played for the Arizona Hotshots in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.
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