Kansas City Chiefs select Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson is the first Husker off the board in the 2026 NFL draft.
The first Nebraska Cornhusker is off the board for the 2026 NFL draft . All-American running back Emmett Johnson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with pick 161 in the fifth round. The Minneapolis native is the first Husker running back selected in the NFL draft since the Detroit Lions selected Ameer Abdullah with pick 54 in the second round.
Johnson was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year for his performance last season. In 12 games this season, he had 1,451 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had 46 catches for 370 yards, bringing his all-purpose yards total to 1,821 yards, second in the nation for running backs.
Johnson appeared in 41 games in his Nebraska career and recorded 2,460 yards in 458 carries. He joins a Chiefs team that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in rushing last season. Running back Kareem Hunt led the team with 611 rushing yards.
Now, the Husker running back has a chance to join an elite organization and work with some of the top offensive minds in professional football. Emmett Johnson could not have gotten a better landing spot to begin his NFL journey. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.