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Chad Ochocinco

Chad Ochocinco is the name used by American former professional football player Chad Javon Johnson from 2008 to 2012.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Chad Ochocinco is the name used by American former professional football player Chad Javon Johnson from 2008 to 2012. He played as a wide receiver in the National Football League for 11 seasons, most notably with the Cincinnati Bengals and later the New England Patriots. The nickname “Ochocinco” refers to his jersey number 85.

Early life and college

Chad Johnson was born in Miami, Florida, in 1978. He played college football for Santa Monica Corsairs and later Oregon State, before entering the NFL.

NFL career

Johnson was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001 and became one of the league’s notable wide receivers over an 11-season career. He later played for the New England Patriots and was part of their Super Bowl XLVI roster.

Name change and public image

From 2008 to 2012, he legally used the surname Ochocinco, drawn from his No. 85 jersey. The name change reflected his flamboyant public persona and became a major part of his sports identity.

Post-NFL activities

After football, Johnson appeared in media and pursued soccer-related interests, including a trial with Sporting Kansas City and play with Boca Raton FC. He also worked as a sports analyst.

Key facts

  • Johnson legally used the name Chad Ochocinco from 2008 to 2012, a reference to the Spanish phrase for 85, his jersey number.
  • He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
  • He played 11 NFL seasons as a wide receiver and was known for his prolific receiving and personality.
  • He played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots in the NFL.
  • After his NFL career, he remained active in media and soccer-related activities.
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Canadian context

He has a Canadian connection through a reported stint with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. [7]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Chad Ochocinco?
He is the former name used by Chad Johnson, an American former NFL wide receiver best known for his years with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Why was he called Ochocinco?
The name refers to the Spanish words for 85, matching the jersey number he wore.
What position did he play?
He played wide receiver.
Which NFL teams did he play for?
He played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots, and later biographical sources also list the Miami Dolphins.
When did he use the name Chad Ochocinco?
He used that name legally from 2008 to 2012.
Did he play in Canada?
One later biographical source says he played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, but that detail is not consistently listed across the provided sources.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Johnson
    Supports: Birth name, name used from 2008 to 2012, NFL career length, teams, college, and Super Bowl XLVI note.
  2. FOX Sports — https://www.foxsports.com/personalities/chad-ochocinco/bio
    Supports: Draft position, six Pro Bowls, four All-Pro selections, soccer trial, and later media work.
  3. Wikipedia (Dutch) — https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Ochocinco
    Supports: NFL teams including Miami Dolphins.
  4. NFL.com — https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/characters-14
    Supports: Legal name change period, jersey-number meaning, personality, and post-career soccer/reality TV mentions.
  5. Pro Football Reference — https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnCh01.htm
    Supports: Nickname association and player identity.
  6. NNDB — https://www.nndb.com/people/955/000159478/
    Supports: Legal name change back to Chad Johnson and Canadian Football League mention.