Antonio Johnson leans into a veteran’s role as Jaguars head to minicamp

The Jaguars’ 2026 offseason program brings Antonio Johnson a new kind of responsibility as the team prepares for minicamp this week. In an interview at the Miller Electric Center, Johnson described a shift in his daily job, moving from being “the younger guy” to one of the room’s leaders at safety, even though he is only 24. That leadership transition matters for a secondary because the NFL’s spring work is where roles get clarified, communication chains get built, and younger defenders learn how the defense operates when the reps start to count for evaluation.

Johnson said he is also settling into the same defensive scheme for the first time in four NFL seasons. He framed it as a mental change, less about constantly re-learning and more about what he can add now that he knows what Jacksonville wants and how it fits together. The Jaguars’ defensive leadership is centered on veterans in part, but the team has leaned heavily on Johnson’s presence on the field and in meetings. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile described him as a “really good communicator,” and said Johnson has accepted a large role in both the defensive rooms and on the practice field.

Last season, Johnson’s on-field production helped validate that trust. He started eight regular-season games and totaled five interceptions, a career high that tied for the most on the Jaguars and ranked second in the league. He also recorded two sacks, logged 52 tackles (34 solo), and defended nine passes as the Jaguars’ defensive backfield became one of the unit’s most disruptive groups. Jacksonville’s player profile further notes that he finished 2025 ranked fifth in the NFL with 107 interception return yards, an added indicator of how often his reads turned into game-changing momentum.

Part of Johnson’s veteran charge is that the safety room, by the Jaguars’ count, is young around him. Other than Johnson and Eric Murray, Jacksonville has three first- or second-year players at the position: second-year veteran Caleb Ransaw, second-year veteran Rayuan Lane III, and rookie Jalen Huskey. Johnson said the difference feels real, not in slogans, but in the way teammates approach him, asking questions and expecting answers. He added that he is prepared to lead without forcing the room, calling it a “blessing” to be trusted to direct others “in the right direction.”

What Johnson does on defense also widens his influence. Campanile’s remarks pointed to Johnson’s versatility, including the fact that he plays both safety positions and also works at nickel and dime. For a young defensive unit, the value of a player who can cover multiple spots is that communication travels better, since the coordinator can build a single set of concepts and then see them confirmed across different looks. Johnson acknowledged the workload of learning and processing those responsibilities, and said the payoff is having the defense understood at a level where he can coach techniques he is asking others to play.

The spring schedule provides a clear next checkpoint. The Jaguars’ minicamp is set for Wednesday, June 10, at the Miller Electric Center, with gates opening at 8 a.m. and practice scheduled from 9:05 to 10:55 a.m. While minicamp is still spring football, the work tends to spotlight assignment clarity and communication flow, especially for defenders tasked with more than one role. If Johnson’s “older guy” description holds true in practice, it could show up quickly in the consistency of the secondary’s calls and adjustments.

For Jacksonville, the stakes are less about the scoreboard in June and more about continuity as the defense heads toward the 2026 season. Johnson said the goal is to be “the No. 1 defense in the game,” and his frame of mind suggests the team is aiming to replace last year’s learning curve with repeatable execution. The natural watch point now is whether Johnson’s leadership style and scheme comfort translate into faster processing by the younger safeties, and whether the Jaguars’ defensive backfield keeps turning takeaways into field position advantages as the program moves from learning to sharpening.