D.J. Johnson was drafted No. 174 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1989 NFL Draft out of Kentucky. 117 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 32 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #174
- Round
- 7
- Draft class
- 1989
- NFL games
- 117
- Years as starter
- 6
- Career AV
- 3216th at Kentucky
The pick
How D.J. Johnson came off the board in 1989.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Kentucky
SEC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
117 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 32 career approximate value
- Games played
- 117
- Seasons as a starter
- 6
- Career approximate value
- 3216th among Kentucky picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2578% of career value
- Final season
- 19967 years after the draft
Around pick 174
Who came off the board on either side of D.J. Johnson.
West Virginia
Richmond
Eastern Illinois
Youngstown State
Kentucky in the 1989 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from Kentucky
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
D.J. Johnson in the 1989 NFL Draft
D.J. Johnson is a Defensive back out of Kentucky selected No. 174 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1989 NFL Draft. 117 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 32 career approximate value Kentucky has produced 99 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was D.J. Johnson drafted?
D.J. Johnson was selected No. 174 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1989 NFL Draft (Rd 7). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1989/d-j-johnson.
What college did D.J. Johnson play for?
D.J. Johnson played college football at Kentucky in the SEC. See every Kentucky draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/kentucky-wildcats.
How did D.J. Johnson's NFL career turn out?
117 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 32 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1989/d-j-johnson.