SANTA CLARA -- Dontae Johnson entered the NFL as a member of the final draft class of Jim Harbaugh’s four seasons with the 49ers.
Johnson learned some valuable lessons during those early seasons as a professional -- advice that has served him well in a career that has lasted nine years and counting.
“I was able to listen to those guys and understand to find your role and try to do your role to the best of your ability,” Johnson said. “And that’s how you last in this league.
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“And if you can pick up on multiple other things, then why not? If you have the mental capacity to handle it, then go ahead and do it. That’s one thing I learned from Pat (Willis), Antoine Bethea, Eric Reid, a lot of older guys we had.”
General manager John Lynch said delivering the bad news to Johnson was the most difficult part about cutting the 49ers’ roster to 53 players to open this season.
Johnson, 30, was among the team's final cuts. But he returned to the 49ers’ practice squad. He was elevated from the practice squad last weekend and made his 2022 season debut at nickel back in the team’s 28-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6.
“I always show up and am ready when my number is called,” Johnson said. “Until then, I have to wait and play my role. My role is to be a teammate, and that’s what I’m here to do.”
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The 49ers this weekend will pay tribute to the organization’s 2012 team that lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl. Harbaugh will be at Levi’s Stadium, he told The Athletic.
Johnson has Harbaugh to credit for coming to the 49ers in the first place.
Johnson turned down Harbaugh’s scholarship offer to Stanford to attend North Carolina State. Four years later, Harbaugh had still not forgotten.
Johnson was a fourth-round pick of the 49ers in the 2014 NFL Draft.
“He said, ‘I couldn’t get you then, I’m getting you now,’” Johnson said of Harbaugh. “That’s one thing he said when I got the call that I was getting drafted by the 49ers.”
Johnson entered the league as a cornerback, and rose to a full-time starter with the 49ers in his fourth season in the league. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 2018, but was cut after sustaining an injury.
That began a nomadic journey for Johnson that saw him go to Buffalo, Arizona, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers.
He was back with the 49ers for seven games in 2019 but was inactive for the team’s Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Johnson appeared in 14 games with the 49ers in 2020 and 16 games last season. The 49ers have released Johnson numerous times to create a roster space before inevitably re-signing him.
Such was the case when the 49ers had to make cuts in order to reach the regular-season limit before this season.
“I pride myself on my ability to come here and showcase my ability to make a 53-man roster,” Johnson said. “That was my goal of mine, and I felt I did everything I could to do that.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t just play out that way.”
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As willing as the 49ers have been to part ways with Johnson, they are equally reliant on him because of his versatility. He is the team’s only defensive back capable of playing both cornerback positions, both safety spots and nickel back.
Because Johnson is often spread thin and does not focus on just one position, it is fair to wonder whether his versatility is a blessing or a curse.
After pausing a moment, Johnson answered, “It’s a blessing. It’s a blessing to allow me to get to Year 9. I’m grateful for that.”