(Photo: Damon Allred/ Arizona Sports)
Fragments of the past come in many forms and are found in the most unlikely of places. Sometimes it can be a box of photos tucked away in an attic. Other times, a preserved old memory is played on a VHS tape.
For Arizona State football safety Chris Johnson II, the past revealed itself in another way — an old recording of a family member found online.
The redshirt freshman was on YouTube when he stumbled upon an old video of his father, Chris Johnson. More specifically, a video from his time playing in the NFL. With his father’s professional career in the secondary spanning nearly a decade, playing defensive back runs in the Sun Devil safety’s blood.
“I found a YouTube video a couple days ago,” Johnson II said. “I feel like I never really cherished watching him develop and get better.”
Johnson’s NFL career was a unique one, marked by stints with five different teams. Drafted in the seventh round out of Louisville, he immediately carved out a lasting role as a special teams contributor. In the back half of his career, Johnson saw increased defensive snaps before retiring as a Super Bowl champion in 2013.
In the years following his retirement, Johnson’s lifestyle shifted toward being a father. His son inherited a passion for football and began learning the same position Johnson played during his NFL career. While fatherhood was his primary focus, Johnson also served as an extra coach within the household. As such, he was often critical of his son.
“I feel like we always focused on the negative, not the positive,” Johnson II said. “‘Hey, you missed that tackle,’ or ‘Hey, you played the wrong leverage.’”
Johnson II played high school football in Aledo, Texas. By his senior year, he was recognized as a consensus three-star prospect by all major recruiting outlets. To close out his high school career, his team celebrated an undefeated season and back-to-back UIL Texas 5A Division I state titles. His senior year contributions included 54 tackles, 16 passes defended, and two interceptions.
Leading up to that point, Johnson II and his father hadn’t spent much time appreciating the highlights of a high school football journey. Instead, their focus remained on how Johnson II could improve as a player. Competing in a state loaded with football recruiting talent, the Texas native had to hone in on his craft in order to stand out.
“We’d never talk about the good. It was always about, ‘How can I get better?’” Johnson II said. “He never cared about a good pick or a good pass breakup.”
Coming out of high school, Johnson II received offers from 16 college programs, including his father’s alma mater, Louisville. Over the summer, he visited three of those schools — ASU, Oregon, and Arkansas. Johnson had set a goal to make his college decision by the Fourth of July, and that’s exactly when he committed to the Sun Devils.
Johnson II arrived in The Valley listed at the same position his father once played and the position he had held throughout his football career: cornerback. During spring practices, Johnson lined up at cornerback alongside a group of young players in a crowded room. With six other defensive backs signed in the class of 2024, Johnson faced an early uphill climb to see the field.
In the midst of last season’s bye week, ASU converted Johnson to safety. This spring, that’s where defensive coordinator Brian Ward has deployed him. Ward acknowledges the challenges that come with a position switch, but he is encouraged by how well the young safety has progressed this spring.
“He’s going through his first install as a safety in our system and we’re throwing a lot at him,” Ward said. “The pressure’s on, and he’s responding to it. I’m excited about his development.”
A position switch, while not uncommon, can still come as a surprise in college football. Johnson II’s father understands navigating football’s unpredictable twists and turns all too well. After all, many seventh-round picks are lucky to play even one game in the NFL. Johnson, however, accrued 10 seasons at the professional level.
While still playing in the secondary, Johnson II is now at a different position than the one his father used to play. However, the work ethic passed down to him remains present, even with Johnson away from home. And sometimes, his father is still in the same room, albeit on a screen.
“My dad always just cared about getting better,” Johnson II said. “I really appreciate the work ethic he’s instilled in me today.”
