Johnson is the 35-year-old quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, whose knowledge and passion find him in the Super Bowl, coaching an MVP runner-up in Jalen Hurts.
Smith was a latecomer to football, having not played the game until ninth grade, while Johnson had been training for this since middle school. So while Smith was preparing for a season that would end with him as a Heisman finalist and the top pick in the NFL draft, he was matching wits on complex football terminology with someone who graduated early from high school.
One night, Mullen recalled, Smith wanted to stick around to watch the end of an otherwise meaningless game. “Don’t you think you should take him out for a little fun?” Mullen recalled telling Smith.having fun. “Football was important to him,” Smith said. “I think he was hungry for it.” In each of the past six seasons , at least 18 NFL full-time head coaches primarily had an offensive background, and no more than 13 had significant defensive experience. Over that time, Anthony Lynn and David Culley were the only Black coaches hired with mostly offensive backgrounds. Mike Tomlin, Todd Bowles and the recently hired DeMeco Ryans were all defensive coordinators before getting their promotions to head coach.
“OK, put on his game film,” Mullen recalled Meyer telling him. “And I was like, ‘Well, he hasn’t started yet.’ And he was like, ‘We can’t do it.’ ” “When we went undefeated with Urban, that was a big deal,” Smith said. “I still think people questioned us like, one-hit wonders. But with Brian and Kyle, after Urban left, they proved it was a real, sustainable thing.”But that would be the height of Johnson’s playing career. He went undrafted and was cut after being invited to training camp with Green Bay. Whittingham suggested Johnson should get into coaching.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Super Bowl QBs: Both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have good backup plansIt’s likely the only time football fans will see Kansas City’s Chad Henne or Philadelphia’s Gardner Minshew during the Super Bowl will be on the sideline. But this is the NFL and sometimes things don’t go according to plan.
Read more »
Philadelphia Eagles fans take to the skies for Arizona ahead of Super Bowl LVIIPhiladelphia Eagles fans have been flying to Arizona to see the Birds in Super Bowl LVII all week. Friday represented an even bigger travel day for fans to get a head start on the excitement of Sunday’s game.
Read more »
Sand sculptor carves Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl tribute in South JerseyA Philadelphia Eagles fan is making his mark in the sand ahead of Super Bowl LVII!
Read more »
Camden hosts pre-Super Bowl pep rally to cheer on the Philadelphia Eagles (PHOTOS)Camden native Haason Reddick, a linebacker for the Eagles, will be making his first appearance in a Super Bowl.
Read more »
Sand sculptor carves Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl tribute in South JerseyA Philadelphia Eagles fan is making his mark in the sand ahead of Super Bowl LVII!
Read more »