"I didn't wanna go out there": Diontae Johnson confesses he didn't enter a game for Baltimore Ravens last season due to being cold
Diontae Johnson (via Getty Images)
Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson is in the spotlight today after confessing he once declined to enter an
NFL
game because he was too cold. Appearing on the Sports & Suits podcast, Diontae Johnson revealed a moment from Week 13 of the 2024 season when the Ravens faced the Philadelphia Eagles on December 1.
Even though he was needed late in the game, Diontae Johnson admitted he said "no" because his legs were cold.
Diontae Johnson once refused to enter a game—here's why
The National Weather Service said the day in Baltimore reached a high of 44°F and bottomed out at 21°F—chilly, but not quite Lambeau Field "Frozen Tundra" levels. The move didn't agree with the Baltimore Ravens. Diontae Johnson reported the denial resulted in a one-game suspension, and soon he was waived. The Houston Texans picked him up, but their things only marginally improved.
"End of the third going into the fourth, they were like, 'Tae, we need you.' I was like, 'Nah, I don't think it's a good idea for me.' Like, my legs are already ice cold and I didn't wanna go out there and put bad stuff on film," Diontae Johnson said.
Diontae Johnson expects Kenny Pickett to be Browns' starting QB | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC
Diontae Johnson's 2024 campaign became a whirlwind, with visits to Carolina, Baltimore, and Houston. He ended the year with 33 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns—a huge decline for the former Pro Bowl leader in receptions for multiple Steelers seasons.
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After being reclaimed by the Ravens after his Texans release, Johnson was not eligible for postseason games and went on to become a free agent shortly after Baltimore's playoff loss.
In April of 2025, Johnson was signed to a one-year, $1.17 million contract with the Cleveland Browns—a transaction now in question, given Cleveland's notoriously cold weather. Cleveland has historically averaged 4–6.5 degrees colder than Baltimore through the NFL season months, based on historical weather data.
Cold feet or cold reality?
NFL observers and fans are responding with a combination of laughter and dismay to Johnson's candor. On the one hand, he didn't stage an injury or pout on the sidelines—he just said he was cold and didn't want to give any bad tape. On the other hand, "too cold" is not an excuse that goes over big in NFL locker rooms, particularly in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or Buffalo.
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And now, Johnson gets a do-over with the Browns, but how long he'll keep warm—and his head in the game—is something that could carry over into the 2025 season.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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