NFL icon beams with pride at daughter’s HBCU graduation

The former NFL Pro Bowler, famously known as “Ochocinco,” didn’t hold back his emotions as he stood alongside hundreds of proud families during the Saturday morning ceremony at the Texas-based HBCU. Chadé not only earned her degree, but also made her father proud by becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.—an honor deeply rooted in Black collegiate tradition.

This wasn’t Johnson’s first brush with Prairie View’s vibrant HBCU culture. In fact, over the past few years, he’s immersed himself in it. He participated in the coin toss at the Panthers’ 2024 Homecoming game, attended his daughter’s AKA probate, and later reflected on the experience with heartfelt admiration during an episode of Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe.

“Now what I’m not going to do is — I promise this time when I talk about Prairie View — I’m not gonna cry,” Johnson said with a laugh. “But that is something that all people… need to experience — a homecoming at some HBCU at a state near you.”

Johnson, a Florida native, has roots in HBCU culture himself. He spent a brief stint at Langston University before transferring to Oregon State, where he launched the football career that led to six Pro Bowl selections and a place among the game’s most iconic personalities.

But on Saturday, it wasn’t about stats or Super Bowls. It was about legacy. It was about family. And it was about an HBCU experience that brought one of football’s most colorful personalities into a deeply rooted tradition of Black excellence.

To fans of HBCU sports and culture, Johnson’s continued presence on campus is more than a proud parent moment—it’s a reminder of how strong the HBCU bond can be, even across generations.

For athletes, alumni, and fans alike, Chad Johnson’s story is a reminder: show up, celebrate your people, and stay connected to the culture that shapes us.