Jakob entered the NFL via the International Player Pathway Program and was signed by New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on 8 April 2019.[5] He was released during final roster cuts on 31 August 2019.[6] After remaining unclaimed in waivers, he was automatically assigned to the Patriots' practice squad for the 2019 season.[7] As the Patriots chose not to register him as an international player, Jakob counted against the 10-man practice squad limit, and was therefore eligible to be signed to the active roster during the 2019 season.[8] He was promoted from the practice squad on 21 September 2019 following an injury to James Develin and became the first International Pathway player to be activated [9] and play in an NFL game.[10] He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on 14 October 2019 with a shoulder injury. In the 2019 season, he recorded one reception for five yards, and took 94 total snaps — 71 on offense and 23 on special teams — in 4 games played.[11]
To start the 2020 NFL season, his second, Johnson made the Patriots 53-man roster out of camp, becoming the second International Pathway player to do so after Efe Obada.[12] In Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, Johnson scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard touchdown reception from Cam Newton,[13] becoming the first player from the International Player Pathway to score a touchdown.[14] He also became the first offensive player from Germany and second overall German player to score a touchdown.[15]
On 25 March 2021, the Patriots re-signed Johnson to a one-year contract.[16]
