Johnathan Joseph

Johnathan Joseph (born April 16, 1984) is an American football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Joseph played college football for the University of South Carolina. He was drafted 24th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

College career
Joseph began his career in junior college at Coffeyville, Kansas in 2003. He was ranked the 31st best JUCO player in the nation by College Football News and earned all-conference honors. Joseph recorded three interceptions, one for a touchdown, and 43 tackles. Joseph also recorded a sack and two pass break-ups.

Joseph's top two schools were the Florida Gators and South Carolina Gamecocks, who both offered him scholarships. Joseph ended up choosing South Carolina over Florida.

Joseph started at cornerback his first two games of the 2004 season, recording two tackles in his first game against Vanderbilt and forcing a fumble. In his game though, he broke his foot in the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs. Joseph spent the remainder of the year rehabilitating his injury.

Joseph was scheduled to have a big season in 2005, along with teammate and fellow defensive back Ko Simpson. Joseph earned the Outstanding Defensive Back Award in spring practice and recorded two tackles and a broken up pass in the Garnet and Black Game. Joseph finished the season with 55 tackles, four interceptions, and nine broken up passes.

Cincinnati Bengals
Joseph was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1st round, 24th overall. In his rookie year of 2006, Joseph made his debut start worthy with five tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, Joseph defended his first pass, three in that game, and added to them with three tackles. Against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13, Joseph recorded a then-season-best 7 tackles and a career-best 4 defended passes. In his last game of the year, a 23-17 overtime loss to Pittsburgh, Joseph recorded a career-best 10 tackles with 2 defended passes. Joseph's season totals were 58 tackles and 20 pass break-ups.

Joseph was arrested early in the morning on January 22, 2007 in Northern Kentucky. He was charged with possession of marijuana, making him the ninth Cincinnati Bengals player arrested in a nine-month period.

Joseph only missed one game of the 2007 season, as he finished with 62 tackles, 15 pass break-ups and 4 interceptions and a touchdown. His interception total was second on the team, behind rookie Leon Hall.

The 2008 season started well for Joseph as he scored the first touchdown of the season on a 66-yard fumble return. However, Joseph would only start 7 games during the year and finish with a career-low in tackles with 42. Joseph also accumulated a forced fumble, 13 pass break-ups an interception.

After starting only seven games in 2008, Joseph had the best year of his career in the 2009 season. In Week 3, Joseph returned an interception from Ben Roethlisberger for a touchdown, en route to a 22-19 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In late December 2009 Sports Illustrated writer Peter King called Joseph and Hall "the best tandem in the NFL."

Joseph finished the season with career-highs in tackles with 69 and interceptions with 6. He also recorded one forced fumble, 20 pass break-ups and a touchdown.

After the season, USA Today named Joseph to their annual "All-Joe" team which recognizes quality players that don't get their due.

Houston Texans
On July 29, 2011, the Houston Texans signed Joseph to a 5-year deal worth $48.75 million, with $23.5 million guaranteed. Joseph and former Chicago Bears safety Danieal Manning were signed to help improve a defense that was ranked 30th overall and 32nd in pass defense.

In his sixth NFL season, through 16 weeks, he was an important part of Houston’s pass defense with 4 interceptions and 15 passes defended. He registered 44 tackles, including 40 solo stops, and 1 forced fumble.

On December 28, 2011, Joseph was invited to the 2012 Pro Bowl, and was named a second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press. On January 7, 2012, Joseph caught an interception in Houston's 31-10 victory over his former team Cincinnati, marking the Texans first ever playoff victory.

On May 9, 2012, Joseph was announced as the 73rd ranked player on the NFL Top 100.

In the first game of the 2012 NFL season, Joseph intercepted a pass by Miami Dolphins rookie QB Ryan Tannehill and returned it 36 yards to set up a game-tying field goal; Houston went on to win the game 30-10. On October 21, Joseph picked off Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco and returned the interception 52 yards for a touchdown. Houston won 43-13, the team's first win over the Ravens after 6 previous losses, including a defeat in the playoffs the year before. After another great 2012 NFL season with Houston, Joseph was selected to his second Pro Bowl along with eight of his Texans teammates.

Personal life
Joseph was a criminal justice major at South Carolina. He also has a son named Jay'vion.