Through faith-based camp, Media’s Johnson brings message home
NETHER PROVIDENCE » Except for the morning rain, Steven Johnson’s second Faith Motivated Foundation football camp was going great Friday when the first practice ended and lunch began at the Strath Haven High cafeteria.
There was plenty of chicken, vegetables and rice left when Johnson introduced a couple of speakers who have what he wants. And with that the young man who rose from just another junior varsity body to captain of the Panthers in 2005, from walk-on to scholarship player at Kansas to Big 12 Conference leader in tackles, from undrafted rookie to five years in the NFL introduced cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and defensive lineman Kenny Anunike. They were Johnson’s teammates who helped the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl in the 2015 season, Peyton Manning’s last in the league.
Now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson hailed his guys as champions without mentioning how difficult it was for him to spend that 2015 season with the Tennessee Titans, who claimed him following the last major round of cuts.
Anunike and Harris filled the cafeteria with hope and humor, which is just how Johnson tries to roll with his foundation.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Johnson said. “You look around at some stuff, you just can’t explain it. And I feel like those things you can’t explain, God has something to do with it. That’s what I try to emphasize in this camp. I don’t try to push religion on anyone. But it’s a faith motivated football camp. You’re coming here to get better not only on the field but off the field as well.”
Harris has a pretty inspiring story. The threetime Pro Bowl selection coming off a first-team All-Pro year forms one of the top corner tandems in the league with Aquib Talib. Yet Harris, who wasn’t drafted, told the campers the Broncos are still bringing in people to take his job. How does that make him feel? In the bottom line NFL, it’s a chance to add another Pro Bowl, All-Pro or Super Bowl prize to his growing resume.
“Try to get another one,” Harris said.
The cafeteria erupted in laughter minutes later when one of the campers innocently asked Harris “what’s a gang banger?” He almost fell to the floor, having used the street term during his talk.
“It was a good question, man,” Harris said. “They just need to be informed about everything that’s going on in life. Especially if these kids grow up in high-risk situations, you need to know that, what’s out there and give them that insight. And I think it’s smart if you don’t know to ask questions.”
Anunike, most recently with the New York Jets, told the group to use football to teach them how to be men or, in the case of Interboro High’s Katey Rogers, the first girl to participate in the Faith Motivated Foundation camp, how to be a woman. The Duke grad commanded attention with the story about why the automobile windshield is larger than the rearview mirror.
“Your whole life is ahead of you so keep your eyes on the road ahead,” Anunike said. “But every once in awhile look back in the rearview mirror and see how far you’ve come. Keep grinding, keep working and keep your grades up.”
Johnson could author a best-selling book about grinding, keeping your grades up and how to deal with setbacks. He’s overcome numerous injuries and waited overtime for opportunities to prove he can play.
Last year was no exception as Johnson suffered a broken bone in his ankle in a game against the Dallas Cowboys.
“That was terrible,” said Johnson’s father Steven. “The play was over when that actually happened and I think a couple players on the Dallas team was just trying to make a statement by pushing one of the other players on the Steelers. I think they drove him so much they ran on to his leg and he broke that joint. It messed him up. And it messed me up. Every time the boy gets hurt it brings tears to my eyes because he went through a lot. You just don’t know.”
Johnson, 29, played in just six games last season due to the injury that limited his ability to really test free agency. He inked another one-year deal with the Steelers and is almost totally healed from the injury.
“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs but at the same time everything is right in front of me,” Johnson said. “I just have to go and get it. I definitely feel for the kids who are overlooked because that was me. That kid that’s in here that doesn’t think anybody is going to look at him or he’s not strong enough or fast enough, at the end of the day all he has to do is believe in himself and he can do anything.”
In terms of opportunity, Jhari Evans, the sixtime Pro Bowl, four-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion guard with the New Orleans Saints is the reverse of Johnson. The 11-year veteran was a fourth-round pick out of Division II Bloomsburg. Instead of blocking for future Hall of Famer Drew Brees this season, Evans has joined the Green Bay Packers where his job is keeping future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers in one piece.
Frankford product Evans, who schooled the offensive linemen with Brian Folkerts, formerly of the Rams, met Johnson through Johnson’s uncle Rodney.
“We played college ball together, won a lot of big games,” Evans said. “I followed Stevie at Kansas, followed him his whole career into the NFL. Steve’s a very humble guy. And the thing I like about him is he’s about getting the job done. The work ethic he puts into being a good player shows on the field. He hasn’t played a lot of snaps on defense. He’s played a lot of special teams snaps. But the thing I always tell him is he’s going to get his chance. Just be prepared for it. Every time he’s in the game he makes a play.”
Whatever the future holds, Johnson’s father is proud of his son. The memories came back during the 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Sapovits Park, across the street from his residence on Vernon Street.
“Extremely proud of him to give back,” the elder Johnson said. “Like that 3-on-3 yesterday in Media, that was major. And then right here with these kids and trying to coach them up for the next level. You can’t ask for more and be more of a proud parent. This thing ain’t over for him yet. I hope he can play 10 more years and get that daggone Super Bowl ring he should have gotten with the Broncos. He was starting that year going into the season. Come time for that 53-cutdown they released him … But you know what? God works in mysterious ways.”
The same can be said Steven Johnson. of