Once a top Heisman candidate, former Auburn Tigers QB is making history in Mexico

Since arriving at Mexico, Johnson has played in two pro championships (winning one in the LFA) and is one game away for a third consecutive appearance. He sure has made it look easy in the process posting the below stats:

• 2022: 1,538 yards 16 TDs 6 Int. 
• 2023: 2,465 yards 32 TDs 3 Int.* 
• 2024: 2,075 Yards 23 TDs 9 Int. **
  
  *Undefeated champion at 12-0 including playoffs.
  **Headed to semifinals as the No. 1 seed with a perfect 8-0 record, frontrunner for MVP. 

A big part of Johnson's success has to do with the fact that he's loving football like he had not since his high school years at Carver, where he was so successful that he had his number retired, won the Mr. Football award given to the best Alabama player, and graduated as a four-star recruit and received offers from multiple FBS teams including Auburn, LSU, Purdue, and Ole Miss, per 247 Sports.

"I would most definitely say yes," Johnson said when asked if playing Mexico represents some of the most fun he's had playing football. "Also, compared to my high school years (...) Mexico has definitely been the most fun for me just for the simple fact it was my first time coming out here in 2022. I'd never been to Mexico, and it is fun, man."

But the biggest aspect of Johnson's enjoyment of playing in Mexico isn't about the country at all. It's about elevating others.

"You got (younger) guys that are wanting to elevate, so you see them and you try to motivate them, you try to get them to understand, how it works, because I'm also a coach," Johnson said. "So, I try to guide these guys too, and get them to understand what it takes. And my biggest message is - man, this the only thing that I say that I regret - is just don't give up. You never know what could happen. You never know what you could come across, the opportunity. Just never give up."

At college, his career didn't pan out quite like he wanted. Johnson was a Top 4 Heisman candidate during the 2015 offseason but he failed to light it up as a Tiger as the team went 7-6 and he passed for only 1,053 yards in 10 games played.

"Auburn was great, man, that comes with the sport, you know, having high expectations," Johnson reflected. "I mean, people don't understand also it was my first year starting, my first starting a full game, my first time being in the SEC really just, I mean, I had games my freshman and sophomore year, where I played good, and it was my time to start, it was a new year, a different team, you know, a lot of different pieces."

Despite his remarkable success in Mexico as a pro player and those good moments at Auburn, Johnson's wisdom is that of one who learned from the down moments.

"Man, it's tough. And I had a lot of expectations. I was like, favorite for the Heisman, and I didn't meet those expectations," a 29-year old Johnson continued" "And it was thinking that I could have done better it was things that my coaches could have done better now that I'm older and I understand and I look back and I reflect on those things, what I could have done better, because you learn more the older you get, when you sit back away from the game."

At one point after those early struggles, Johnson went as far as removing himself from the offense and became a member of the scout team, and he explained he was completely done with playing football. He regrets virtually giving up but he makes the most of the experience using it to inspire others:

"I tell people all the time, I had the world in my hand," Johnson candidly shared. "In my draft class, there was Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, Trevon Boykin, they had me winning the Heisman over all those guys. And I didn't meet those expectations and all that goes away. I didn't understand that then but I understand that now." 

Johnson, who describes coaching as his calling, uses that wisdom to coach high school quarterbacks at Montgomery Catholic. Such skills have helped the Chihuahua Caudillos to sustained success on offense as Johnson had to overcome an overhaul at wide receiver after losing three starters - including the league's reigning MVP - after winning the championship in 2023. The offense started off slow for a couple of games but was back to its dominant self by Week 3.

Johnson's leadership immediately showed as he helped a new group of starters quickly settle in and he helped former Louisiana Tech WR Malik Stanley to lead the league in yards in 2024. 

"(Coaching) is my goal," Johnson admits. "That's what I firmly believe in. I think I'm a great coach, man, I think I love coaching, more than I love playing, for sure, it is not even close because it's more exciting watching and seeing someone that you tried to help and build and be better than what you were and to go out and see kids play and perform. That excited me more than going out there and throwing touchdowns and playing games." 

Johnson says that "right now" he doesn't expect to keep playing past 2024, but he leaves the door open, probably a sign of how much he's enjoyed his time in Mexico. For now, though, it's all about winning the next two games as the Caudillos await their rival in the semifinals after earning the top seed and a bye week.

Two games away from back-to-back perfect years in Mexico and maybe an MVP award.

To make things even better, a likely rival for the Caudillos in the playoffs will be the Monterrey Fundidores, where former Northwestern State QB Shelton Eppler has dominated opposing defenses. Johnson is 2-0 against Eppler and finds motivation in playing him as fans constantly debate who's the top quarterback in the league.

"I'm 29, man," Johnson says through a smile. "And Shelton is like, 25, man like that dude, he's younger than me, man. He's a good football player. And the thing for me, I just like it, because it keeps me motivated... When I see them go out there, they perform the way they do and it's like, man, you got to keep up with these young dudes." 

So, short term? Johnson is etching his name in Mexico football history. Long term? The former Heisman candidate won't be spending much time away from football, only he'll be doing it with a headset on instead of a helmet.

"I'm doing well," said Johnson when asked what he'd like Auburn fans to know about where he's at these days. "I'm super thankful for the university, the people that I've met, my teammates, everybody that was on my side at the time of me going through my ups and downs and, and things like that, but I'm good. I'm living good. I'm doing good. I got two kids. Coaching. That's, you know, that's my calling. That's my dream."