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Former wide receiver and current sports media personality Keyshawn Johnson is takNFLing legal action against his former agent, Chris Ellison, accusing him of withholding nearly $1 million in commissions stemming from an agreement the two reportedly made a decade ago.
The lawsuit, filed last week in Los Angeles and obtained by TMZ Sports, centers around an arrangement in which Johnson would steer prospective NFL players toward Ellison in return for a cut of the agent's earnings.
Keyshawn Johnson takes legal action
According to the suit, Johnson claims the deal entitled him to one-third of the three percent commission Ellison received on the salaries of players Johnson referred.
The former No. 1 overall pick says Ellison failed to pay him for four specific clients: Deommodore Lenoir (49ers), Jaylon Johnson (Bears), Mike Hughes (Falcons), and Romeo Doubs (Packers), totaling $962,335 in unpaid compensation.
"This was a business agreement between two professionals,"Johnson said.
"I upheld my end by helping guide these young athletes, and I expect to be compensated fairly."
Ellison, for his part, has denied the allegations, telling TMZ Sports he disputes the claims laid out in the lawsuit.
Though Johnson retired from the NFL in 2006, he has remained active in the sport through mentorship and media.
Appearing recently on Julian Edelman's "Games with Names" podcast, the former USC standout reflected on his college years and the current state of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation in college football.
Johnson speculated on how lucrative his college career might have been in today's landscape.
"Based on what these Arch Manning's are getting, I was probably a $10 million a year guy," he said.
Still, Johnson emphasized he would have remained at USC despite any competing NIL offers.
"Oh I'm staying at USC," he said.
"The reason is because we can pay. I'm not going to leave because someone is offering me $4 million versus $2.5. I'm not going to jump around and run."
"NIL wasn't NIL but I still got what I needed, even though it wasn't NIL,"Johnson added with a grin.
"You see what I'm saying? Wink wink."
Johnson remains a prominent figure in football, both for his on-field legacy and his voice in the media.
As the lawsuit proceeds, NFL fans and insiders alike will be watching to see how this high-stakes financial dispute unfolds.