Stevie Johnson
A seventh-round draft pick who defied expectations to become the first Buffalo Bills receiver with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, rewriting the team's record books.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American football player·Birthday: July 22·Millennials
Biography
Stevie Johnson's path to the NFL was anything but straightforward. Selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2008 draft—often considered the territory of long shots—he carried a chip on his shoulder that would fuel his career. At the University of Kentucky, he showed flashes, but nothing prepared the league for the showman and playmaker he would become in Buffalo. With a unique, almost unorthodox route-running style and reliable hands, Johnson developed an instant chemistry with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He shattered perceptions by becoming the first wide receiver in Bills history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2010, 2011), a feat that had eluded the franchise for decades. While his celebratory antics, like the famous "Why so serious?" shirt, made headlines, his production on the field made him a fan favorite and a testament to finding superstar talent in the draft's late rounds.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Stevie was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Stevie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Stevie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- First Buffalo Bills wide receiver to record consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2010 and 2011).
- Selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round (224th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
- Played ten seasons in the NFL for the Bills, 49ers, and Chargers, amassing over 4,200 receiving yards.
Did You Know?
After scoring a touchdown in 2010, he revealed a t-shirt that read "Why so serious?" referencing The Joker from Batman, which resulted in a fine.
He played college football at the University of Kentucky alongside quarterback Andre' Woodson.
He is of Hawaiian descent through his mother.
“They said I was a seventh-round pick; I just kept catching touchdowns.”
