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“Aaron Rodgers said he was best in the league”: NFL fans react as Bills cut All-Pro star ahead of 2026 free agency


The Buffalo Bills parted ways with veteran defensive back Taron Johnson on Friday, marking the end of his eight-year journey with the program. The decision is undoubtedly a major shift in the team’s secondary as the roster continues to reshape ahead of the 2026 season.

Johnson had been a key piece of the Bills’ defense for several seasons, primarily serving as the team’s starting nickelback under Sean McDermott. He will be most remembered for his amazing 101-yard pick-six against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round in 2020.

The Buffalo Bills’ decision to cut Taron Johnson came as a big surprise to many, as that wasn’t the plan the franchise had signaled to the fans. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard noted last month that he spoke to Johnson about a change in position and he’s happy about it.

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“He knows that we’re going to communicate with him,” Leonhard said, “and find out what’s right because he’s been an extremely productive player in the NFL, and now it’s trying to find out what the best match of some of the things that I’ve done in the past and what they did really well to feature a player like that.”

NFL fans haven’t stopped reacting to the Buffalo Bills’ release of Johnson. The veteran is seen as the most established nickelback in the league, with the team playing a nickel defense in 83.4% of their snaps since 2020, the most in the league. His exit indicates a move away from that.

Here’s a look at some of the reactions online:

@JFowlerESPN @AdamSchefter Aaron’s Rodgers said he was best in the league. Buffalo needs a defense WYD?

@JFowlerESPN Tough to see him go. Who do you think fills his spot in the Bills’ secondary?

@JFowlerESPN as if our defense couldn’t get any worse 💔

@JFowlerESPN This is baffling. He was great.

@JFowlerESPN Forever known for taking Lamar 100+ yards to house in a playoff game

@JFowlerESPN @AdamSchefter End of an era in Buffalo. Johnson was such a key piece of that secondary

Taron Johnson short of words in his Buffalo Bills farewell

Taron Johnson had no words to express his feelings as his tenure with the Buffalo Bills came to an end on Friday. Upon his release, the defensive back simply posted a highlight reel from the 2024 season on his Instagram Stories, accompanied only by a single red-heart emoji.

The All-Pro defensive back is set to embark on a new beginning, having spent his entire NFL career with the Bills. Selected in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, he has appeared in 113 games with 87 starts. He was on the field for 74% of the Bills’ defensive snaps and four percent of their special teams snaps in the contests he appeared in.

In his eight years with the Buffalo Bills, Johnson recorded 572 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles, eight sacks and six interceptions, including two for a touchdown. The team saves $1.9 million against the cap with a $9.5 dead cap charge by releasing him.