Dontae Johnson

Golden Nuggets

• His first name is pronounced don-TAY.
• When he got the call that he was being drafted by the 49ers, San Francisco's 2014 first-round draft pick DB Jimmie Ward was one of the first phone calls that he received to congratulate him and tell him how excited he was that the two were going to be teammates. Ward and Johnson were roommates at the 2014 Senior Bowl.
• During the 2017 offseason, Johnson visited Langston Hughes Elementary School in East Orange, NJ in an effort to speak to the students and share his words of wisdom. Said Johnson, "We all have a dream and what you decide to do to get there is your choice. Make the best of it!"

Golden Nuggets

• His first name is pronounced don-TAY.
• When he got the call that he was being drafted by the 49ers, San Francisco's 2014 first-round draft pick DB Jimmie Ward was one of the first phone calls that he received to congratulate him and tell him how excited he was that the two were going to be teammates. Ward and Johnson were roommates at the 2014 Senior Bowl.
• During the 2017 offseason, Johnson visited Langston Hughes Elementary School in East Orange, NJ in an effort to speak to the students and share his words of wisdom. Said Johnson, "We all have a dream and what you decide to do to get there is your choice. Make the best of it!"

Goldmine

• NFL players once again had the chance to share the causes that are important to them during all Week 13 games of 2017, as part of the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats campaign. The initiative was a culmination of collaborative work between the NFL and players across the league. Johnson supported Lucile Packard Children's Hospital for My Cause, My Cleats, where he is an active volunteer. "After connecting with a child undergoing treatment at the hospital, I realized these diseases affect the whole family," said Johnson. "My message to the children in treatment and their families: Your courageous fight and perseverance do not go unnoticed!"
• During the 2016 offseason, Johnson formed a special relationship with Will Randleman, a young man who suffered a traumatic neck injury while playing youth football in the Bay Area. Initially, Johnson was expecting his visit with Will to be a somber one. However, he was greeted by something unexpected. "He was in such amazing spirits. When I was talking to him, I saw his passion and love for football. We connected over that," said Johnson. When Johnson visits Will, the two talk about the injury, but also go much deeper into their friendship. "We're friends now. It's amazing that we've opened up to each other. I've honestly learned so much from him," Johnson continued. "His attitude has really made me cherish and value the opportunity that I have. I just want to help any way I can and let him know he's not fighting this alone."
• As part of Salute to Service Month, Johnson, along with his teammates and general manager, John Lynch, visited the USO office at the San Jose Military Entrance Processing Station to spend time with military applicants and their families as they took the Oath of Enlistment and shipped off to basic training.
• In October of 2017, the 49ers partnered with Bags of Fun to deliver backpacks to children undergoing treatment at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Each bag was personalized with educational, interactive and fun toys to provide joy, laughter and relief from the stress and anxiety of being in the hospital. Johnson and his teammates spent time with patients receiving Bags of Fun and other families in the hospital to uplift them during a difficult time.
• Johnson, a sports management and business administration major, spent the summer prior to his senior year as a sports marketing intern with French West Vaughan, a marketing/public relations firm based out of Raleigh, NC. During his internship, he worked with some high-profile athletes and clients which provided great experience. "I actually got to do a few things with MoGo, the flavored mouthpiece that [former 49ers QB] Colin [Kaepernick] wears. I did that and then I did a few things for [Cincinnati Bengals DT] Geno Atkins, getting him some suits for the ESPY's." Johnson believes if he weren't a professional football player, that he had found his calling in sports marketing. He said, "That was definitely something I would do. Just the interaction with players and businesses, I felt like that was cool."
• The 49ers partnered with Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services for animal therapy, while providing confidence building activities for students in the Leland High School special needs program in an effort to erase the stigma attached to special needs. Johnson and his teammates spent time with students with autism, mental illness and learning disabilities as they play board games, working on social skills including conversational queues and eye contact through the hands-on activity. Players will also partner with animal therapy dogs to uplift students through one-on-one interactions. "Our job is a day-to-day job," said Johnson. "Something like this allows you to be a human again. You can put work to the side. When it's all said and done, this world should be about helping people. And everyone being respectful to each other, regardless of differences of race or ethnicity. That's what drives me to be out here. It brings me joy."
• In honor of the NFL's Crucial Catch campaign, the 49ers hosted a fashion show in October of 2017, featuring breast cancer and pediatric cancer warriors in apparel donated by Levi's®. Johnson, along with his 49ers teammates, walked the runway with cancer warriors as they shared their stories of strength and courage with the audience.