Catching Up with Texas-Ex Derrick Johnson

Electrifying is rarely an adjective used in association with linebacker play, but that might be the single best word to describe Derrick Johnson’s time at the University of Texas.

Longhorn fans surely remember the range, closing speed, and ability to separate the ball from the ball carrier. They’ll certainly recall the instant impact his uncommon athleticism allowed him to have as a freshman.

How did the Waco product go from being known for athletic play in lieu of fundamentals to one of the best inside linebackers in football? That answer lies in the chorus often heard at a camp hosted by Johnson last Sunday in Manor, a town just 15 minutes from where Johnson burst on to the national scene.

“HARD WORK!”

“PAYS OFF!”

Michael Jordan without the fade-away is Vince Carter. There’s nothing wrong with being Carter, but Jordan was quick to understand as his athleticism decreased his fundamentals and skill would have to increase to keep the level of dominant play he’d grown accustomed to. Johnson seems to have understood the same.

Once known as an outside linebacker who didn’t shed blocks honestly because he didn’t have to, Johnson has made a career of doing just that as he transitioned from a 1st round draft pick with some questions about his game to Pro Bowler several times over. In a career going on 12 years, he’s become the Kansas City Chiefs all-time leading tackler and was recently named to the NFL’s Top 100 list yet again. Not bad for a guy who couldn’t shed blocks, huh? Like fine wine and Helen Mirren, Johnson just gets better with age.

Hard work paying off is much more than a t-shirt platitude for the veteran. While his game improving with age is an obvious example of his dedication to the sport, nothing exemplifies his football character and willingness to work hard more than returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon injury that claimed almost his entire 2014 season. For many players, especially those of his age and mileage, this would spell the end of a fine career. Instead, Johnson returned to his 2013 form, garnering a Pro Bowl selection and being recognized as a 2nd team All Pro in 2015.

On Sunday, more than just Johnson’s football character was on display as he, along with fellow Longhorns, Emmanuel Acho, Fozzy Whitaker, and Kwame Cavil, enthusiastically mentored camp goers on the fundamentals. Johnson hammered home the right way to shuffle and mirror to aspiring young linebackers.

“Don’t click your heels,” he’d shout, “If you get caught with your heels touching you’re off balance.” Later while teaching how to hand-fight with bigger players, he had these young guys yanking and pulling on him like he was their little brother. By the end of the demonstration his shirt was stretched to its limits, as was the grin on his face as his charges began to pick up on his teachings.

They then worked on the all-important zone drops and taking the right angle to get to the curl. Let’s just say Johnson looked better in his demonstrated drops than he did throwing simulated interceptions. He definitely has the arm of a linebacker.

At the end of the day, the coaches and attendees were covered in sweat. I’m sure the young players learned a lot; I sure did just standing and observing.

As people began to depart I was able to catch up with #56. We discussed hard work, the NFL draft, and #46.

IT: Your time at Texas ended in 2004. Your current teammate is Jamaal Charles. You help paved the way for him to win a National Championship. Do you tell him that’s partially your Championship? Without that 2004 team I’m not sure they win it in 2005.

DJ: You know what, I can’t take any credit, I try to sometimes but my hats off to what they did that year. Now don’t get me wrong, the years prior to that, we won 10 games every year when I was there so we had a lot of success.

IT: You guys learned how to win the close games too.

DJ: We did. We did. My only obstacle was Oklahoma really. We barely got beat by them my senior year.

IT: 12-0.

DJ: Yeah! 12-0. The next year they beat them and won the Championship so if I can beat OU one of those years I’d probably have me a National Championship.

IT: Now we’re rolling into 2005 which was a big year for you anyway. I remember the draft because I was in New Orleans with a bunch of fellow Houston Texans fans. We’re looking at their position and thinking they have a chance for you at #13. The next thing we know, the Saints trade with the Texans and the Saints fans erupt because to a man they wanted you. The Saints took OU o-lineman, Jammal Brown and then the Chiefs snagged you right in front of the Texans (the Texans selected Travis Johnson from Florida State, oops). What are your thoughts on all this — you slid a little further than people thought.

DJ: That’s one thing I wish I wouldn’t have gotten too involved in emotionally because during the draft you can’t control anything. When you’re out there waiting on your name to be called certain things happen. You don’t know where you’re slotted on each team’s board, so if somebody is higher than you on a board and a team has a chance to take somebody they didn’t think would be there, they’ll say oh man, let’s take him. I remember Detroit could have got me at #10 and they picked up Mike Williams. I was like, man, they didn’t think he was going to be there, so it was one of those things, but I kind of slid from 10 to 15. But Kansas City told me if you’re there at 15 we’re going to get you.

IT: And it worked out well. You’re kind of an anomaly where you’ve been there 10 years now going on 11.

DJ: 11 going on 12. It’s been great. You never know where you’re going to work out. It’s the NFL, it means not for long, but I’ve had some good luck on my side and I’ve been very fortunate in Kansas City. There’s been what, five head coaches, four defensive coordinators, three GM’s? I’ve been through a lot. I’ve been through the ups and downs but through it all I’ve been blessed. I’ve been working my tail off; staying easily motivated.

IT: You’ve gotten better with age it seems which is pretty rare.

DJ: You just got to work harder. You know, the league’s about getting younger, bigger, faster….cheaper. That’s how you build a business and build a dynasty. You can’t pay everybody but I’ve been fortunate to get paid a little bit while I’ve been there.

IT: When you came into the NFL the knock on you was you weren’t taking on blockers and obviously you’ve dispelled that. Now you see #46 at Texas and he’s kind of got the same questions, you know, not having to play as physical because he’s so athletic. Do you see some of your traits in him?

DJ: Oh definitely. I mean, Malik Jefferson is a guy that will be an NFL player. He’s a guy that sky’s the limit for. He’s very athletic. I think his skills rushing the passer are better than mine, I was more of a sideline to sideline guy, an inside guy, but he can do it all so sky’s the limit for him and yep, you’re going to have that knock on him for an athletic guy.

IT: They have to find something.

DJ: You got to find something. You can’t be perfect, that’s what football is. He doesn’t have to take on the block all the time but there are other times where you have to. He’s going to learn that, I mean he was a Freshman All American this past year.

IT: You have that in common with him too.

DJ: I do, I do. We have a lot of things in common. Hopefully he can come out with some hardware, you know some Butkus wins [stated with a big grin on his face, almost like he was making a challenge] and those things.

Johnson went on to say he’s a believer in Charlie Strong, citing he’s a defensive guy which is right up his alley and that he’s getting the right guys in place beyond Jefferson.

He also stated things I witnessed first hand. He likes working with the youth and imparting a work ethic in them. “Staying easily motivated” is a must. It should come as no surprise he’d like to get into coaching one day, after he’s had a minute to step back from the game and catch his breath.

The player-to-coach transition is one that doesn’t work well for many former star players, but because of his willingness to work hard, and his ability to demonstrate how it pays off, I think he’ll make a fine coach one day. He definitely has the temperament for it, the credibility, and the work ethic, but most importantly, he possesses the genuine enthusiasm it takes to work with younger players.

At a school like Texas we always focus on who’s the next big thing but it’s just as fun to see the former Longhorn greats experience immense success after leaving school and for Johnson, his successes off the field match those on it.

A few clips from some of his Texas days.