Johnny Jolly

Johnny Ray Jolly Jr., born on February 21, 1983, is an American former professional football player who played as a defensive end for the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2009 and again in 2013. Drafted by the Packers in the sixth round (183rd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft, Jolly attended Texas A&M University, where he became a standout defensive tackle. His college career was marked by a memorable performance against Oklahoma, known as the "Jolly Dance," due to his strong showing.

In the NFL, Jolly faced challenges in his rookie season with limited playing time but emerged as a starter in his second year. His career was disrupted in 2010 when he received an indefinite suspension from the NFL due to violations of substance abuse policy related to codeine possession and distribution. Despite efforts to appeal, he missed the Packers' Super Bowl XLV season.

Jolly's legal troubles continued with multiple arrests and charges for drug-related offenses, including a second-degree felony for intent to sell codeine in 2008. After several delays and retrials, he was sentenced to six years in prison in 2011 for violating probation and possession of narcotics. He was released early in 2012 on shock probation.

Upon his return to football in 2013, Jolly briefly re-joined the Packers but struggled with injuries and an evolving team strategy favoring lighter players, leading to his release in 2014 without other NFL interest. His legal and professional challenges have marked a troubled post-football career.