The Montreal Alouettes officially signed former NFL star receiver Chad Johnson to a contract Thursday.
Johnson had been working out with the team in Florida this week.
“Chad Johnson did an outstanding job the last three days,” Alouettes general manager Jim Popp said in a press release. “As we added him into the mix, it was to see how he communicated with the players, how he held himself, the way he physically held up, his true interest in coming to the CFL. It was a total evaluation so that it’s a good fit. He was very happy and very excited to be on the field again and we are happy to welcome him to the Alouettes.”
The 36-year-old spent 11 seasons in the NFL, but hasn’t played since the 2011 campaign. The six-time Pro Bowler has 11,059 receiving yards, which ranks him 30th in NFL history.
Johnson was drafted 36th overall in 2001 by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent the first 10 years of his career before joining the New England Patriots in 2011. He was on the Miami Dolphins’ roster for a brief time in the summer of 2012 before being cut.
He caught 766 passes and had 67 touchdown receptions in 166 career NFL games and led the AFC in receiving yards on three separate occasions.
Often referred to by his nickname “Ochocinco,” Johnson was known as one of the more entertaining NFL stars. He has already begun tweeting in French to win over his new fan base.