He’s been out of the NFL for a decade, but former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson still knows how to get attention.
Johnson still is a fixture in Cincinnati and frequently attends Bengals games at Paycor Stadium, including the Jan. 15 AFC Wild Card win over the Baltimore Ravens. But even before the game, he was making his presence known throughout the Queen City and on social media – and he may be reigniting a tip war.
On Jan. 14, Johnson posted a photo of a receipt from Holy Grail, a tavern at The Banks in downtown Cincinnati. The initial amount charged was $78.09, but he added a $1,000 tip, bringing his total to $1,078 for the bar. He had a message for tavern staff, too.
“Thank you! Who Dey!!!” Johnson wrote next to the credit authorization. “He also added, “Ravens don’t stand a chance tomorrow! Who Dey!!” near the bottom.
He posted the receipt to Twitter with the caption, “Proverbs 11: 25 💫 (Bengals Edition).” According to the New International Version of the Christian Bible, the passage Johnson referred to says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Johnson is a frequent diner around town and often leaves generous tips. In 2021, he added a $1,000 tip for employees at the Redlands Grill in Rookwood and referenced Married… with Children character Al Bundy’s football career. “I once scored three touchdowns in one game. That is one less than Al Bundy at Polk High!!” he wrote. That $1,000 tip appeared to be unrelated to the viral “tip war” between local rival fans of the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, who left hefty tips for restaurant workers during the difficult COVID-19 pandemic.
Love for McDonald’s and Jeff Ruby
Johnson’s big plans over the weekend included hitting up the McDonald’s in Covington.
“I’m so happy i could hug & kiss every person on this flight to Cincinnati, first order I’d business when i land. McDonald’s in Covington, Strauss Cigars to get a few sticks & relax with @housh84,” Johnson said during his flight on Jan. 13.
He proceeded to say “I’m lovin’ it” at one of Cincinnati’s most popular restaurants. Johnson shared a photo of himself sitting at a table at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse – “the best steak house in the world,” Ocho claimed – and along with typical dinner delights, Johnson apparently enjoyed a McDonald’s Happy Meal.
“McDonald’s Happy Meal < Japanese A5 Wagyu Steak strips was the highlight of my night at @TheRealJeffRuby,” Johnson said on Jan. 13.
Johnson and former Bengals and Oregon State University teammate T. J. Houshmandzadeh hit the town in the days before the game, enjoying Bengals fans’ newfound optimism along with both premium and fast-food meat.
“The overall energy of this city is amazing. The way they’ve treated myself and Chad, it’s unbelievable,” Houshmandzadeh said, according to Bengals writer Geoff Hobson. “It wasn’t like this when we were playing, unless when you’re playing you just don’t realize it. It’s kind of numb. We’ve been at Jeff Ruby’s (restaurant) the last couple of nights and the love is true.”
On Jan. 14, Johnson posted a video in which he hungrily ate a McDonald’s sandwich while driving (immediately before that, he posted a photo of his burger and fries in a Mickey D’s bag). This one was all his, though “Not sharing my McDonald’s w/ @housh84 🚫,” Johnson wrote. The wide receiver has posted about the Golden Arches a number of times, including as a recommendation when current quarterback Joe Burrow claimed that there “wasn’t a lot to do” in Cincinnati at the end of 2021.
Paying Joe Mixon’s fine
Johnson also recently defended running back Joe Mixon, who received a $13,261 fine for celebrating a touchdown with a coin flip during the final regular-season game against the Baltimore Ravens. Mixon’s action was a retaliation against the NFL’s moves after suspending the Jan. 2 game between the Bengals and the Buffalo Bills due to Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest. The Bengals needed to win week 18 against the Ravens to avoid a coin toss to determine the site of the first playoff game.
Mixon, head coach Zac Taylor and others voiced opposition to the NFL’s decision to no avail. But Johnson had the team’s back. “Dear Bengals players, if you love me the way I love you guys when you score tomorrow someone has to flip a coin as their celebration & call tails,” he tweeted.
When Mixon produced a coin from his glove and threw it into the air to celebrate scoring against the Ravens on Jan. 8, the NFL hit him with the fine.
“@NFL since y’all all about the coin flipping let’s do this. Let’s have a coin toss to pay this crazy fine for expressing myself. If it’s heads I’ll pay. If it’s tails Roger G pay the money to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cincinnati. 🪙 #AllAboutTheKids #WhoDey,” Mixon posted on Jan. 13 after the fin was handed down.
Johnson backed Mixon up in his own way.
“On my flight headed to Cincinnati & that makes me happy, i have my checkbook so i can reimburse Joe Mixon on whatever fine amount was handed down from the league office,” Johnson said.
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This article appears in Jan 11-24, 2023.