Diontae Johnson has sparked concern after posting a raw Instagram Live video in which he opened up about his mental health and the toll of his recent football journey.
Sitting alone in the dark, the free-agent wide receiver said the version of himself people see online does not reflect what he is dealing with privately. “I’m not, bro. [I’m] really broken on the inside,” Johnson said as he spoke about how isolated he has felt.
Johnson also pointed to his own choices as a major reason for the pain he is carrying now. Looking back on a turbulent final year in football, he didn’t hide his regret.
“You live, and you learn, bro, with every decision you make… I regret every decision I made,” he said. He added that it has been difficult to act as if everything is fine while he is away from the league.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers standout built his name on sharp route-running and steady production. Pittsburgh took the Toledo receiver in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he made an immediate impact as a punt return specialist, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors. Over five seasons with the Steelers, he totaled 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns.
His biggest statistical season came in 2021, when he caught 107 passes for 1,161 yards. That performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection.
Pittsburgh traded Johnson to the Carolina Panthers ahead of the chaotic 2024 season. From there, he had short stops with the Ravens and Texans before being released. In six NFL seasons, he finished with 456 receptions for 5,091 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Johnson is only 30-years-old, and while there may still be football ahead, the focus now is on his mental health.
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