New York Giants second-year tight end Theo Johnson is looking for redemption. After a less-than-stellar rookie season, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound athlete is ready for an increased role this year—and he might just be the breakout candidate Giants fans have been craving.
Injuries limited the 24-year-old to just 11 games in 2024, bottlenecking his production to 29 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown. But context matters. Before Johnson fractured the fifth metatarsal in his foot, which required season-ending surgery, he was starting to find his groove.
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In the four games leading up to the injury, Johnson accounted for 15 of those receptions and 181 of those yards—hinting that a breakout might have been on the horizon. It didn’t happen. But now he has a chance at redemption in Year 2. And if Day 1 of training camp is any indication, Johnson is ready to seize it.
Giants need a tight end like a sail needs wind—and Theo Johnson’s feeling the breeze
In what looked like a broken play, Jaxson Dart fielded a snap off the ground and immediately felt pressure. He rolled to his left and slung a pass to the only spot it could go, right where Johnson could high-point it with that massive frame:
Jaxson Dart to Theo Johnson! pic.twitter.com/qeS0oWTii5
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) July 23, 2025
Dane Belton appeared to be in coverage, but he wasn’t close enough to make a play, suggesting there may be more to Johnson than just the measurables — dare we say some separation, route-running, and hands?
Giants fans have been waiting nearly two decades for a real TE1. Since Jeremy Shockey, only one season of Evan Engram really gave fans hope at the position. Johnson taking over that role and becoming a legitimate threat is exactly the kind of development this team needs.
Sure, it’s only one catch on the first day of camp. But the sigh of relief at the thought of finally having a guy at tight end is more than justified.
It was only two years ago the Giants thought they’d solved the position with Darren Waller, only for him to battle injuries and retire the next offseason. And yes, he later unretired just to facilitate a trade to the Dolphins — but I can't make sense of everything.
Johnson is now the obvious TE1, and plays like that will only add fuel to the hype train. It’s all aboard the Theo Johnson bandwagon — and fans are just hoping he becomes the tight end this franchise has been waiting for.