Micah Johnson’s fifth All-CFL selection doubled as a first in Canadian professional football history.
On Wednesday, he became the only defensive lineman to make the dream team as a 37-year-old. The previous high was 36 — and, yes, the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle was an All-CFLer at that age, too.
“Year after year, it’s just my competitive juices,” he said. “I just want to be the best at my position and I think it just drives me.
“It makes off-seasons easier. It makes working out easier. My body still feels good. I know I say year after year that I feel better, but I’m not lying.”
The only injury issues Johnson encountered were at the outset of his CFL career.
He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in each of his first two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (2013 and 2014).
“When I used to pray and talk to God, I would just ask Him, ‘Give me some longevity on the back end, just to make up for this,’ ” he recalled. “I told him, ‘I’m going to pull myself up out of this hole.’ I used to have conversations like that.
“It was just crazy, having that rocky start like I did early on in my career. To see how it has formulated and how it is still coming together, the story is still being written.”
The imprint Johnson left with the Stampeders is evidenced by his first three All-CFL selections — in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
A linebacker before joining the Stampeders, Johnson expected to move to the defensive line — but to an end spot, as opposed to tackle — upon migrating to Canada.
“I remember him coming of two knee surgeries and switching positions,” said Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace, who played defensive tackle alongside Johnson in Calgary.
“A lot was asked of that guy. With the fact that he has carved out this kind of career for himself, I’m just proud of him.”
Justifiably so.
Johnson is one of only 22 players (and 12 non-kickers) aged 37 or over to make an All-CFL team, dating back to its introduction in 1962. (See full list below.)
As well, Johnson is just the eighth defensive lineman — and the fifth tackle — to make the All-CFL team at least five times.
John Helton leads the way with nine nominations. Doug Brown, also a tackle, is next in line with seven.
John Barrow (tackle), Charleston Hughes (end), Willie Jefferson (end) and Almondo Sewell (tackle) follow with six.
At five, Johnson is accompanied by Dave Fennell (tackle) and Joe Montford (end).
Among that group of eight, all but Hughes, Jefferson, Sewell and Johnson are in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame — principally because they are not yet eligible for induction.
Jefferson, now of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, remains an active player. Hughes and Sewell played as recently as 2022 and 2023, respectively. A player must be retired for three full seasons before he can be considered for the Hall.
“It’s a funny story,” Johnson said. “Before I came up here, I’d just got cut by the Green Bay Packers at that time. It was the last NFL cut. It kind of took my heart out because I thought I did a very good job.
“I was making my way to Canada and I remember talking to my dad about this, that and the other. He was like, ‘You can’t think about it anymore. The CFL has a Hall of Fame, too.’
“That stuck with me. From then on, I didn’t necessarily make it my goal, but my dad made a really good point.”
After starring at the University of Kentucky, Johnson spent time in the NFL with the New York Giants (2010), Miami Dolphins (2010), Kansas City Chiefs (2010-11), Cincinnati Bengals (2011-12) and Green Bay (2012-13) before signing with Calgary on May 27, 2013.
“Even though the NFL window closed on me, I just embraced the opportunity I had up here and really attacked it,” the 6-foot-1, 255-pounder reflected while gearing up for Saturday’s Western Final against the B.C. Lions (5:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
“I just think back to that conversation I had on the phone. It was just one of those things with my goals. I was like, ‘It would be awesome if I could make it to that peak, make it to that pinnacle.’
“With my personal story, and with my personal life, I just felt like I’ve always been an elite athlete. I was an elite talent coming out of high school (in Clarksville, Kentucky). In college, I just made some bad decisions that I think kind of swayed what I had going those first few years in the NFL.
“It always put me in a different perspective of trying to make things right. I changed my approach to how I was living and to how I handled my football business in general.
“It’s funny, because when that happened for me and I turned that light on, everything came to fruition and started blowing up for me in the CFL.”
Consider the fact that Johnson has made seven divisional All-CFL teams in addition to receiving league-wide honours five times.
“Everybody kind of waits for him to slow it down a little bit, but he has affected plays the entire year,” said Mace, whose son Micah is named in honour of Johnson.
“Even though he might not show up on the stats sheet and have a sack or something like that, he’s disruptive. I think he has garnered a lot of respect from opposing offensive lines throughout his career and he’s still doing it.”
OLDEST ALL-CFL HONOUREES
Age 37
• Ron Lancaster, quarterback, Saskatchewan, 1975
• Ken Clark, punter, Ottawa, 1985
• Roger Aldag, guard, Saskatchewan, 1990
• Chris Walby, offensive tackle, Winnipeg, 1993
• Paul Osbaldiston, kicker, Hamilton, 2001
• Anthony Calvillo, quarterback, Montreal, 2009
• Barron Miles, safety, Montreal, 2009
• Rene Paredes, kicker, Calgary, 2022
• Micah Johnson, defensive tackle, Saskatchewan, 2025
Age 38
• Ron Lancaster, quarterback, Saskatchewan, 1976
• Chris Walby, offensive tackle, Winnipeg, 1994
• Sean Whyte, kicker, B.C., 2023
• Stanley Bryant, offensive tackle, Winnipeg, 2024
Age 39
• Bob Cameron, punter, Winnipeg, 1993
• Terry Baker, punter, Montreal, 2001
• Sean Whyte, kicker, B.C., 2024
Age 40
• Paul McCallum, kicker, B.C., 2010
• Anthony Calvillo, quarterback, Montreal, 2012
• Henry Burris, quarterback, Ottawa, 2015
Age 41
• Paul McCallum, kicker, B.C., 2011
Age 42
• Damon Allen, quarterback, Toronto, 2005
Age 46
• Lui Passaglia, kicker, B.C., 2000