Chiefs turn to offense, selecting Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson in NFL Draft Round 5
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- The Chiefs selected Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson at No. 161 overall.
- Johnson led FBS with 151.8 yards per game and averaged 5.8 yards per carry.
- Johnson finished the season with 1,451 rushing yards and 46 receptions for 370 yards.
With their fifth selection of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chiefs on Saturday afternoon took their first offensive player of this year’s three-day selection process: Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson, at No. 161 overall.
Johnson was the Big Ten running back of the year and led FBS with an average of 151.8 yards per game. He ranked fourth with 1,451 rushing yards and averaged 5.8 yards per carry.
The Chiefs traded with the Pittsburgh Steelers and moved up eight spots to select Johnson. The Chiefs were also to make selections at No. 176 (Round 5, which they used to take Cincinnati wide receiver Cyrus Allen) and No. 249 (Round 7).
Johnson started 12 games for Nebraska last season, including the Huskers’ opener against Cincinnati at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
“That was amazing,” Johnson said. “I didn’t get to meet the players, but I saw (Chiefs) Coach (Andy) Reid. It was a blessing to be out there.”
Johnson’s pass-catching skills elevated his pre-draft profile. He led FBS running backs with 46 receptions, a body of work that went for 370 yards and three touchdowns.
“That’s one of the things that excites you about him,” said Chiefs college and pro scout Jalen Myrick. “He’s such a natural catcher of the football and the elusiveness in space. He makes people miss.”
Pass protection will be “a growth area for him,” Myrick said.
In the Huskers’ regular-season finale against Iowa, Johnson rushed for 217 yards.
On Saturday he became the first running back from Nebraska drafted since Ameer Abdullah in 2015. That’s heady stuff for a 5-foot-11, 205-pound back who was actually picked later than he expected.
Johnson also wasn’t highly recruited at the major college level from his Minneapolis high school.
“I just have a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “It fuels me. I feel like I’m ready for whatever.”
Historically, Nebraska has provided the Chiefs with some impact players — including NFL Hall of Fame guard Will Shields and defensive end Neil Smith. But Johnson is the first Cornhuskers player drafted by the Chiefs since cornerback Eric Warfield in 1998.
The Chiefs figured to be in the market for a running back. They’re reshaping the position with free agent signee Kenneth Walker, last season’s Super Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 2:22 PM.