Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle Micah Johnson is looking to add a third Grey Cup ring to his collection on Sunday. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

Micah Johnson keeping family close as he chases Grey Cup with Sask. Roughriders

By Britton Gray Nov 13, 2025 | 8:04 AM

Micah Johnson has made Saskatchewan a second home, and he hopes to bring the Grey Cup back to the Land of Living Skies on Sunday.

The 37-year-old defensive tackle has four kids, so when he decided that he wanted to keep playing football, he made sure his family would be as close to him as possible.

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“Being away from the kids was getting harder and harder and harder. Most guys are done when they are 27 or 28 and the kids are still babies, but it’s like, my little man is in middle school and high school. I have to be there, so I said if I was going to keep playing, they all had to come up. So the past two years, they have been up here,” Johnson said.

“I think that’s another reason that has helped me keep going and play well. It’s all there for me.”

Johnson said he’s loved Saskatchewan since he first signed with the Riders after six years with the Calgary Stampeders. He joined the Green and White in 2019 and has played here ever since, except for 2022, which he spent with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

His father, Nathaniel Johnson Jr., played a big role in his life, and he left Saskatchewan to join Hamilton in order to be closer to his family after his father’s death.

“It just made it so easy for me to push and be a good dad to my kids, because I think about how much he impacted me,” Johnson said.

“We had such a strong bond over football, and I know that’s one of the reasons why I want to keep playing. Because when I’m around the game, I feel super, super close to him.”

This year, Johnson has been able to fend off Father Time and put together one of his best seasons to date for the Riders. He recorded six sacks and 20 tackles, and was named an All-CFLer for the fifth time in his career.

Johnson said he’s had to prove some people wrong over the past couple of seasons.

“I hear it, and it just fuels me every offseason. I just go, ‘OK, watch this.’ I’ve always had a big chip on my shoulder, and I like it. It’s a lot of fun. I’ve told (head coach Corey) Mace and (general manager Jeremy O’Day) that I’ll be honest with myself when I am not feeling it,” Johnson said.

“I said ‘I am feeling better this year than I did last year.’ I’ll be interested to see how I feel coming into next season.”

The last time Johnson appeared in a Grey Cup game was in 2018, when he won his second CFL championship with the Stampeders. On Sunday, he’ll try to help the Riders knock off the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.

Mace said Johnson’s experience and work ethic will be an asset for the Riders on Sunday.

“Deserving means nothing in sport. You have to go out there and earn it,” Mace said. “I think people like Micah, as opposed to a first-year player, understand the importance of it and try to get everybody tied in to understand the same thing.”

Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.