Jonathan Joseph

On March 18, 2020, Joseph and the Texans mutually agreed to part ways, making him a free agent.

Joseph was a criminal justice major at South Carolina. He and his wife, Delaina reside in Houston, Texas. Johnathan has three children; Jay’vion, Johnathan II, and Danae. Joseph is of Haitian descent. Joseph's father, John Joseph, worked at a cotton mill for over 30 years and died in 2014 at age 76 after having emphysema that developed into lung cancer from being a smoker. He credits his father for molding him into the man he is today and instilling core values. Joseph always practices yoga and pilates to help his body deal better with age.

On March 15, 2018, the Houston Texans signed Joseph to a two-year, $10 million contract with $3.90 million guaranteed.

In Week 5, he collected a season-high six combined tackles in the Texans' 42–34 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. On October 15, 2017, Joseph recorded three combined tackles, a season-high three pass deflections, two interceptions, and a touchdown during a 33–17 victory against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. He returned an interception by Kevin Hogan, that was intended for Duke Johnson, for an 82-yard touchdown in the second quarter. His performance in Week 6 earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Joseph finished the 2017 season with 47 combined tackles (37 solo), nine pass deflections, two interceptions, and a touchdown in 16 games and 16 starts. Pro Football Focus gave Joseph an overall grade of 75.7, which ranked 65th among all qualifying cornerbacks in 2017.

Joseph started the season-opener against the Chicago Bears and made four combined tackles and a pass deflection in a 23–14 victory. On November 16, 2016, Joseph recorded a season-high eight solo tackles and a pass deflection during a 24–21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. During a Week 13 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, he made four solo tackles but left in the third quarter of the 21–13 loss, due to a rib injury. He missed the next two games with two cracked ribs and a bruised lung. He appeared in 13 games and started 11, finishing the season with 45 combined tackles (38 solo), nine pass deflections, and posted his first season in his career without an interception. The Houston Texans finished first in the AFC South with a 9–7 record. On January 7, 2017, Joseph Made ten solo tackles and three pass deflections in a 27–14 AFC Wildcard victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Joseph entered training camp facing competition from Kevin Johnson who was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and A. J. Bouye. Kareem Jackson and Joseph were able to maintain their starting roles to begin the season.

He returned to his starting role, along with Kareem Jackson, under new head coach Bill O'Brien to begin 2014. In the season-opener he made 11 solo tackles in a 17–6 defeat over the Washington Redskins. On November 23, 2014, Joseph Made three combined tackles, a pass deflection, and returned an interception for a 60-yard touchdown in a 22–13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the season with a career-high 75 combined tackles (70 solo), 11 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a touchdown in 16 games and 16 starts. Joseph's rank fell to 30th in Football Outsiders success rate. Pro Football Focus ranked him the 20th-best coverman in 2014.

The Cincinnati Bengals finished first in the AFC North with a 10–6 record. They faced the New York Jets in the AFC Wildcard game and Joseph Made five combined tackles in the 24–14 loss. After the season, USA Today named Joseph to their annual "All-Joe" team which recognizes quality players that don't get their due. In December 2009, Sports Illustrated writer Peter King called Joseph and Hall "the best tandem in the NFL". Leon Hall and Joseph were named the Cincinnati Bengals' co-MVPS.

On May 9, 2012, Joseph was announced as the 73rd-ranked player on the NFL Top 100.

On July 29, 2011, the Houston Texans signed Joseph to a five-year, $48.75 million contract with $23.50 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $12.50 million. Joseph and former Chicago Bears safety Danieal Manning were signed to help improve a defense that was ranked 30th overall and 32nd in pass defense.

He started the season-opener against the New England Patriots and made six solo tackles in a 38–24 loss. On October 10, 2010, he recorded two combined tackles and two pass deflections, and intercepted Josh Freeman in a 24–21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He missed Weeks 7 and 8 with a sprained ankle and returned in Week 9 making four combined tackles in a 27–21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. On November 21, 2010, Joseph recorded two solo tackles and intercepted Ryan Fitzpatrick in a 49–31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He finished the season with a career-lows 42 combined tackles (37 solo), eight pass deflections, three interceptions, and a touchdown in 12 games and 12 starts.

Joseph returned to his starting role in 2009 and combined with Leon Hall to become one of the better cornerback duos in the league.

He started the Bengals' season-opener against the Baltimore Ravens and made five combined tackles and three pass deflections, and recovered Ray Rice's fumble and returned it for a 65-yard touchdown in a 17–10 loss. He missed three games (Weeks 3–5) with an ankle injury and returned as a starter in Week 6, making three solo tackles and three pass deflections in a 26–14 loss to the New York Jets. On November 2, 2008, Joseph recorded a career-high 15 combined tackle (11 solo) and two pass deflections in a 21–19 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the next game, he made five combined tackles and three pass deflections, and intercepted Donovan McNabb in a 13–13 tie with the Philadelphia Eagles. On November 21, 2008, Joseph was added to injured-reserve after a recurring foot injury. Joseph finished with 42 combined tackles (31 solo), 13 pass break-ups, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown in eight games and seven starts.

With the departure of Tory James in free agency and Deltha O'Neal receiving a shoulder surgery in the off-season, Joseph was slated to be the Cincinnati Bengals' starting cornerback. He faced competition for his starting position after the Bengals drafted cornerback Leon Hall with the 18th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Joseph was named the starting right cornerback, opposite Deltha O'Neal, to begin the season. Hall and O'Neal were the starters for the season-opener against the Baltimore Ravens, but Joseph Made two combined tackles in the 27–20 victory. The following week, he made his first start of the season and recorded three solo tackles in a 51–45 loss to the Cleveland Browns. On October 21, 2007, Joseph Made five combined tackles and made intercepted Chad Pennington for the first pick of his career. He returned it for a 42-yard touchdown and helped defeat New York Jets, 38–31. On November 25, 2007, he recorded five combined tackles, three pass deflections, and intercepted Vince Young as the Bengals routed the Titans, 35–6. The next game, Joseph Made a season-high seven solo tackles and intercepted Ben Roethlisberger's pass during a 24–10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Week 16, he made a season-high tying seven combined tackles and intercepted Cleveland Browns' quarterback Derek Anderson in a 19–14 victory. Joseph finished the 2007 season with 62 combined tackles (49 solo), 15 pass deflections, four interceptions, and a touchdown. He was second on the team with four interceptions, behind Leon Hall's five interceptions.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Joseph in the first round (24th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He was the third cornerback selected in the first round (15th Tye Hill, 19th Antonio Cromartie).

Joseph was scheduled to have a big season in 2005, along with teammate and fellow defensive back Ko Simpson. Joseph earned the Outstanding Defensive Back Award in spring practice and recorded two tackles and a broken up pass in the Garnet and Black Game. Joseph finished the season with 55 tackles, four interceptions, and nine broken up passes.

Joseph transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he played for South Carolina Gamecocks football team in 2004 and 2005. He started at cornerback his first two games of the 2004 season, recording two tackles in his first game against Vanderbilt and forcing a fumble. He broke his foot in the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs, and spent the remainder of the year rehabilitating his injury.

Joseph began his college football career at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas in 2003. He was ranked the 31st-best JUCO player in the nation by College Football News and earned all-conference honors. Joseph recorded three interceptions, one for a touchdown, and 43 tackles. He also recorded a sack and two pass break-ups.

Johnathan Lee Joseph (born April 16, 1984) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina, and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Houston Texans for nine seasons and the Tennessee Titans.