Vikings Release QB Brad Johnson

In a long-expected move, the Vikings released quarterback Brad Johnson on Wednesday.

The Vikings and quarterback Brad Johnson finally parted ways Wednesday.

The move had been expected since the end of the 2006 season, when Johnson was benched for good in favor of rookie Tarvaris Jackson. Johnson finished the season with 2,750 yards passing, completing 61.5 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Jackson had 475 yards on 58 percent passing with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

After the final game, Johnson said he still wanted to be a starter in the league, but head coach Brad Childress said Johnson was welcome to return in a mentor role for Jackson, clearly not Johnson’s intentions.

Originally a ninth-round draft pick by the Vikings in 1992 (227th overall), Johnson played nine seasons with the Vikings over two stints, from 1992-98 before being traded to the Washington Redskins and again from 2005-06 after winning Super Bowl XXXVII with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Brad has been a true pro throughout his career and we wish him the best as he moves forward,” Childress said in a statement. “Brad was an important part of the team and a guy who led by example on and off the field. He’s a class act and a guy younger players could learn a lot from about what it takes to play in the NFL.”

Johnson has appeared in the playoffs for all three teams on which he played. He holds an NFL record with 11 consecutive seasons with a completion percentage over 60 percent.

He is now free to pursue a job with another NFL team as Jackson and Brooks Bollinger are expected to compete for the starting role with the Vikings.