Third-string Browns running back D’Ernest Johnson is a very inspiring man who has an equally inspiring story that led him to being in the National Football League.
Johnson went undrafted in 2018, so he decided he would message every AAF team for a shot and rejuvenated his career.
The 24-year-old, who is fresh off a career-high 146 yards and a touchdown, is going viral this week when Courtney Kramer, a social media manager for the Dallas Stars, tweeted out a message from him simply asking for a shot when she worked with the Birmingham Iron.
Johnson latched on as a running back for the Orlando Apollos after messaging each AAF team to try and make it in football. He ran for 372 yards before the league went belly up.
In 2019, the Browns signed him and the rest is history. Before his NFL career began, he finished his collegiate career at South Florida as the school’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards (4,186), including 1,796 rushing yards.
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“It’s unexplainable. First off, I want to give thanks to God. Without him I wouldn’t be here,” Johnson said. “I want to give thanks to coach (Stump Mitchell) for just believing in me and coach (Mike Priefer) for just believing in me and giving me a chance. It feels great. Like I say it was always a dream come true for a chance to come out here and play this game and just be able to start.”
On his performance, Johnson said it was “unexplainable.”
“I wanted to celebrate, but I did not know what to do. I just yelled because it has been a long journey, man. To get your first start and get 100 yards and your first touchdown, that ain’t nothing but God,” he said.
