Ep. 118: Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson on his stand-out performance in Week 1, NFL journey & more
September 10, 2024 • 19 mins
On this episode of Rams Revealed, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson speaks on his Week 1 stand-out performance, his love for his hometown of Minneapolis, what it felt like to win a Super Bowl, his NFL journey to the Los Angeles Rams, and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Everyone well, Hello, and welcome to RAMS Revealed. I'm your
host JB. Longing Here in twenty twenty four. We are
presented by Sleep Number, the RAMS sleep and Wellness partner.
Our guest is a twenty six year old from Minneapolis.
He's coming off a career performance in Detroit, which we
will certainly get to. RAMS receiver Tyler Johnson joins us,
thanks for being here. I appreciate it, appreciate you for
(00:23):
having me. I know it is a quick turnaround after
taking the lines to overtime. How are you and the
Rams taking that week one loss?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I just got to bounce back. You know, we got
some things to learn from, but overall, as a team,
we saw some things that we like and that we
definitely would improve on.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Take us inside the huddle. When you're at Ford Field
and it's like one hundred and fifteen decibels and you're
trying to get the play call from Matthew Stafford. What's
that like?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I would say, my first time in the huddle yesterday
was kind of loud, But after that I felt like
I was so dialed in that the crowd noise really
didn't even have an effect on me personally. But from
a standpoint, It definitely was loud out there, though I
will say that, you know, just being able to hear there,
they had a good atmosphere there. Definitely was one of
(01:10):
my favorite places to play us so far.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Though for sure football is very much a next man
up sport. But last night, those are some circumstances on
the road. You set your roster, you set your game plan,
and then things to start to kind of fall apart.
How do you think your group specifically responded to that adversity?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Oh, I mean, we just played for each other, honestly.
You know, we got a good room that cares about
one another, and we all know we can all make plays.
So just going out there, trusting ourselves, trusting each other,
and just going out there and whatever our numbers squaed,
just making the play.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
You certainly did make a play contributing to that two
touchdown deficit comeback that you nearly overcame yesterday. The longest
catch of your career sixty three yards set it up
for us. Will you give us the play by play?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So we're in a huddle, Matt, you know, he caught
a play and I'm like, all right, I got a
shallow right here. So just wanted to stutter them at
the line of scrimmage real quick. And once I once
I stuttered them real quick, I just knew I had
to get from point A to point BE real quick.
You know. Nine did a great job just placing it
on one of my shoulders, the ball on one of
my shoulders and allowing me to have him be my
(02:14):
eyes for real, you know. So I took that as
all right, let me just turn this away with this catch,
and after that, I just saw green grass. It just
started rolling, started rolling.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Seeing it in real time, We're like, oh, that's the
biggest play of Tyler's rams career. As you're going, do
you know that's the biggest play I've ever made in
the NFL. I know you scored touchdowns before, but like,
that's the biggest game. You can feel that in real time?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, most death, most death. I definitely knew that. As
I was running, I would say, I'm like, you know,
I've been I've been running for a while right here.
But it's it's a blessing, man, It's truly a blessing
to be able to play a child's game, which I'd
love to do.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Did you happen to see this from the NFL's official
social media account. I want to give that a read.
Can you make that sound?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Tyler Johnson really says skirt, Yeah, skirting it out of there,
gotta get out of there.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Slammed on the brakes and got started pretty good, didn't you, sir?
Seventy nine yards in a game that was also a
career best and one of your previous best games actually
came against the Rams. You remember that one playing for
the Buccaneers. I do for three catches in sixty three. Yes, sir,
nice to have you on this side of the equations.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
A blessing man, Yes, sir, feel good to be over here.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
So your guy, Cooper Cup goes to the podium afterward
and he says, they call you Playmaker. I didn't know
you had a nickname.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I mean, that's what Coach Yards shout out the yarps.
That's what he called me ever since I got here.
He said, gave me that name for a reason. You know,
he said, every time I go out there on the field,
I'm just liable to make a play. So it's truly
an honored to have somebody else nickname you. And whenever
they can nickname you something like that, you know it
(03:49):
just it just says a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
How great is Yarps, Like you can't have a bad
day around that guy at all.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
He brings the energy every day man, you know, just
just from from the time you see him to you know,
he's just gonna bring the best out of you for sure.
So it's amazing to have him as a coach.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
No, Tyler, if Pooket is out for any stretch of time,
and even if he's not, your time could be now.
It feels like, how ready are you to be a
more consistent contributor on offense for the Rams?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I would say, I'm ready, man, I'm excited. God's placed
me here for a reason, you know. So I've just
got to continue to trust him, trust the plan he
has for me, and I'll just continue to be still
and be ready and in the moment, you know, So
whenever my number is called, I'm just going to continue
to do the things that I've been doing my entire
life that got me here. So but like I said, man,
(04:35):
I'm just excited, excited to contribute to this amazing team,
make plays and just have fun.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
When friends and family ask you what's it like to
catch you pass for Matthew Stafford. What's it feel like?
Does it come out of the hand different than something
you're used to previously?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I mean football is football? Really? Nine is amazing though, Man,
he's the real deal. The way he could just know,
look passes and you know, put the uh put the
ball on a on a dime wherever. You know, he's
amazing being able to watch him from afar and now
be a teammate. Uh. He just a He's just a
(05:09):
cool dude.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Man.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
He got that swagger to him for real. So but yeah,
shout out to nine though.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Can we walk through the Tyler Johnson biography in short,
if you don't mind, give an audience a sense to
who you are and where you came from.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Uh yeah, So Tyler Johnson, I'm from North Minneapolis, Minnesota.
I went to Minneapolis North High School. I played basketball, football, baseball.
I played hockey for for a year. I played hockey.
I did play hockey for a winner. But yeah, so
(05:44):
just a been an athlete my whole life for real.
I'm the oldest of six. I love my siblings, you know,
and but yeah that's a little bit about me for real.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I want to fall up on a few things there
but you on ice skates. Yeah, kind of avelossity. We're
talking about GPS on the field or on ice skates.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I mean at the start, at the start of the year,
it was it was a little rough. It was a
little rough. But as the year went on, you know,
like I said, I'm an athlete, so I started to
get good at pretty much everything that I do, you know.
But that was only for one because it was it
was too cold. So but basketball, football and baseball was
was really the sports though.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I read in your local paper this morning that Minneapolis
is literally inked in black cursive across your chest. You
have that tattoo in the skyline. That's how much it
means to you, yes, sir. And then there's an NFL
tattoo on your arm. But that wasn't like projecting your
football future necessarily. What does that stand for.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
It's still for North Side for life. So it's really
one from like I said, North Minneapolis. And I take
a lot of pride in that, you know, I take
a lot of pride in my city just to be
able to impact others, you know, let them know that
there is a way out, you know, so to all
the ones that's coming up to anywhere anybody around the world.
(06:56):
You know that that that sees this. But just to
let them know that no matter where you from, you
know you can make it out. There's there's a lot
of there's a lot of things out there in life.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I know your mom had multiple generations of her family
from that area. In fact, did you guys go to
the same high school?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, I went to the same high school as my mother.
My pops she went to He graduated from the rival
high school.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:16):
So?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
But but yeah, man, he my dog though, but every
time I played against the high school, he knew what
I had to do. He understood.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
But you really made an imprint on that program from
what I read like winless the year before you enrolled
the program in Jeopardy two wins your freshman year to
a state championship game as a senior. How did you
help grow that program in that school?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It's my friends around man, Honestly, we all stuck through
the tough times like it was. It was it was.
I ain't gonna lie it was. It was super tough
because I went from playing Lily football and winning every
game from from the first time I stepped on the
field till eighth grade and then getting the ninth grade
(08:00):
and we'll go out there and just win two games.
And it was like it was shocking to me, you know,
it was it was uncomfortable. But I had a good
group of guys around, you know, we all stuck through it.
We had some good some good teachers in the school
that say, you know, if if y'all stay, y'all stay here,
you know, y'all got a chance by the time you
guys are juniors a senior. So and that actually happened.
(08:20):
So uh but like I said, I met my friends, man,
they m they my boys. They my boys for sure.
Just being able to have them by my side and
us be able to flip that thing from down to
up was just like it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Is that number ten still unofficially retired or officially retired retired? Now?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Ye, I don't I don't know what it is, man,
but you know I I I won't be seeing nobody
in it. And it's an honor to really have a
unretired retired jersey. But uh, it's a blessing though, man,
just to be able to have something to go back
and and be honored, you know, in my community, you know,
just to be able to see that love and support,
it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So when you have a chance to stay home and
play for the Gold and Gophers, was that automatic?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
And I wouldn't say automatic, honestly. I explored my options
a little bit, but it just felt right, you know,
it felt right, It felt like the fit for me.
And it turns out it was the fifth It was,
you know, so amazing experience there, got my degree. Yeah,
you know, so it all worked out so.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
You could have gone pro after your junior year, but
instead you become the first member of your family to
get a four year college degree. Yes, sir, And then
you have an amazing senior season for those who don't know,
eighty six catches over thirteen hundred yards, thirteen touchdowns, all
of which led the Big Ten and set new single
season school records. In fact, I found gophersports dot com,
(09:44):
the official site of Minnesota athletics, recently ranked the best
receivers in program history. I bring this up for a
couple of reasons. One because you're number one, so good
on you. The other names there are pretty cool too,
Eric Decker, who had a nice career with the Broncos,
and Jets. Ron Johnson went to Baltimore than played in
the Arena League. But fourth on that list is a
familiar name to our audience too. Out well to father, Yeah,
(10:09):
preceded you. It was a great receiver for the Golden Gophers.
So that's another neat time. All right, fast forward to
spring twenty twenty. I'm sure you remember this time. I
was actually in Tampa in March of that year, right,
so the pandemic hits, tom Brady's signing with the Bucks,
and then a few weeks later the draft and you
find out you're going to be a buccaneer and you're
gonna be playing with the goat. What do you remember
(10:30):
about that time?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I remember Tom Brady hitting my phone after I get drafted,
just congratulating me or whatever. You know, I'm chilling with
my boys, and I actually didn't know how to respond,
you know, I'm like, wow, this is Tom Brady hit
me up right now? Like what do I say back? Like?
You know, so I was really in shock. But I
remember going down there to work out with him and
(10:54):
the rest of the guys, and they just welcomed me
with open arms. You know. Taught me a lot of
along the way and just been helpful throughout this process
that I've been having in his league.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
All right, So when he hits you up, like the
color I D doesn't say Tom Brady future Hall of Famer,
like it just says, hey, Tyler, this is Tom.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Are you think you're being punked?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Nah? I didn't think I was being punked at all.
I knew it had it been real, you know, I knew.
So I was just like, wow, man, this is crazy.
Like what do I say back to this?
Speaker 1 (11:25):
You know?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
So ended up texting H back.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Did it was probably a good yeah?
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Yeah, yeah. Most de had to earn.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
You a few targets, and ten months later you're a
Super Bowl champion. What a quick turn of events. In fact,
you drew it proved to be the game clinching pass interference.
Is that the right way to kind of say it?
Against in the NFC championship game? The Bucks beat the
Chiefs in Super Bowl fifty five. So you're playing in
the Super Bowl as a rookie. But it's a super
Bowl unlike any super Bowl prior to it. It must
(11:52):
have been surreal, probably not what you dreamed of as
a football player, getting a chance to play on the
Globe's biggest stage.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
No, I definitely was still a dream still, Like I
I can close my eyes and see see the whole
scenery one more time, you know. But it was an
amazing time though, just to be out there, be able
to go out there and do what we did that year.
You know, we we went on a run to to
finish that year out like wing, like eight games in
a row or something like that. But yeah, it was.
(12:20):
It was an amazing time though, for sure.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
So I wonder what it was like then to be
waved at the end of that next summer. Right You're
you're on the rise, you contribute to a championship, and
next thing you know, you're looking for your next NFL home.
What was that like?
Speaker 2 (12:32):
It was rough, man, Honestly, it was really rough. But
looking back on it, it's definitely shaped me into who
I am today. You know, at the time, I didn't
understand what God was doing to me and why he
was doing the things that He's done to me. But oh,
now that I look back, and it was it was
all for a reason. You know. I was able to
(12:52):
uh learn myself as a man, learn myself as a player,
you know, find things out about myself. You know, it
was like growing pains. Honestly. I figured out things that
I needed to work on, whether that was route running,
you know, creating separation, little small things in my game.
And over these past what three years now, I've definitely
(13:13):
been digging deep, deep in my bag now and then
just let my game just show.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Now, let me quickly connect the dots. Because you go
to Houston for a couple of months, then back to
Tampa Bay on the practice squad. You spend the first
half of the twenty three offseason with Las Vegas, and
then the Rams signed you in May of last summer.
Do you remember your early impressions of joining not just
this organization, but specifically this coaching staff and this offense.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
It felt real whenever I first got here. Honestly, I
remember my agent calling me saying that the Rams wanted me,
you know, and I'm like, for real, Like no workout, no,
nothing like like na, they just want you, Like can
you be there Monday. I'm like, man, I'm ready, so
get here, meet the coaches, just talk to them and
go out for practice or whatever. And they just all
(13:59):
felt like like everything was just clicking, you know, everything
was just clicking. And over time. You know, obviously I was.
I was a little upset that I was I didn't
make the active roster last year. But like I said,
everything happens for a reason, and I just came in
every day with the same mindset, the same attitude, you know,
get one percent better day in and day out, you know,
(14:20):
control what I can control. And and I did that.
You know, I was still I was still coming in here,
not powering, you know, just being being what I had
to be, you know, I was. I was helping the
defense out. That was that was my role last year.
I had to I had I had to take that role,
put that role on every single day. At the end
of the day when I would get home, yeah, I'll
(14:40):
be a little frustrated, But like I said, it was
all for a reason. Man. I was able to work
on myself as a player more more than I ever
been in my life, you know. And I think that
last year was really the year that that I truly
found who I am, you know. So it's a blessing.
I'm thankful for the last year of my life. Honestly,
(15:03):
I'm thankful that God placed me where he placed me
so I can be able to go out here and
flourish and continue to shine be an impact.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
You know. Kind of in my memory, I feel like
you and de Marcus almost coming together that summer, and
there was a cool moment where you're micd up in
the preseason. You and de Marcus are just kind of
sitting on the bench watching the game talking about your
love for football. That's kind of my first exposure to
you as a person and how much this means to you,
and I really appreciate the contributions that you both have
made to the Rams and your patience with which it
(15:35):
kind of took for him to get that four game
rip of touchdowns in the playoff push. You finished last
year getting your first chance as a Ram right in
Week eighteen and that touchdown against the Niners it had
been three years. How good did that feel?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Felt? Amazing? Man, Scoring in the league is hard. It's
very difficult for real. But like I said, it's a
blessing to be able to play a child's game honestly
and as my job as my career. So I thank
God every single day, every single time I step on
that field just to be able to go out there
and continue to play, you know. And but like I said,
(16:09):
I love it, man, and it's something that I want
to do until I really can't do it no more,
you know. So it's just it's just fun to me.
It's like I said, a big blessing.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
I can't wait for your next one and the first
for Matthew right from Tom one from Carson Wentz. Now
we need to get you on from Matthew. Yes, all right,
time now for a new segment we're calling the wind Down,
brought you by Sleep Number. Each week here on Rams Revealed,
we'll get insight into how sleep and recovery impacts performance
in the NFL. So, Tyler, the RAMS are traveling over
twenty four thousand miles this season on your schedule, So
(16:40):
I wonder how you keep your consistent sleep schedule while
traveling to places like Detroit to ensure you're getting proper
rest and recovery.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Uh, well, my sleep is very important to me. I
love my sleep, I would say, definitely on the plane,
make sure I get a little nap in, get to
the hotel. You know, if we ever get a little break,
make sure I get another nap in. But yeah, just
making sure that you know I'm waking up when I
(17:10):
gotta wake up waking up a little early before the
next meeting or whatever it is. But yeah, whenever I
get to sleep, though, I definitely close these eyes for
a little bit.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
I mean, it's impressive. You're way sharper than I am.
I feel foggy. You look like you're ready to go.
Because take us through this postgame in Detroit. I'm trying
to wind it back. We're wheels up at what like
two am Eastern more or less. Yeah, you get some
sleep on the plane, maybe not great.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Every once in a while I was like, up and
go to sleep, up, go to sleep.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So we land at three. You're back here at the
facility Monday at what ten for a treatment and lyft.
Maybe that's what I was missing. I didn't get a
massage and a lift in. That's why I'm off day Tuesday.
Then Cardinals pep prep begins for real. Let's finish with
a couple rapid fire ones. Okay, Tyler, we'll get you
onto your day off. As we pointed out, you caught
(17:57):
your first career touchdown pass from Tom Brady that was
against the Packers, and I wonder how you think now
the Goat's going to be on TV as a color analyst.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
I feel like he's gonna be amazing. Man. I feel like,
you know, I know, you know what he's talking about.
So but I'm excited for him. You know, whenever I
get a chance to watch Him'm definitely gonna watch. I
know he watching me, you know, And but yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
I was gonna say, I'm more excited for him to
watch you. He's going to be on the call in
week four when you go play the Chicago Bears. Okay,
so show out that game. Sure he can talk about
your connection. He probably remembers that text message he's sent you.
Back in the spring of twenty your college career was
capped by what a twelve catch, two hundred and four
yard two touchdown performance against Auburn and the Outback Bowl
h That catch on the goalpost was sick, by the way. Yeah,
(18:42):
I went and saw that one again this morning. Appreciate
you were the Outback Bowl MVP, which leads me to ask,
could you finish a blooming onion by yourself? No? What
if I helped?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
I mean help probably would be needed. For sure.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
I'm more of like the brown bread and butter guy
you ever have that never no wondering it's such good shape.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
That's my nemesis.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Funny you finish your college career right where you start
your pro career though, right at Raymond James was meant
to be. Next stop State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Week two. Go get that win for the Rams. Okay
most death, Tyler. Thank you for some of your time.
We wish you a great week of preparation. Can't wait
to see more on the field for Tyler Johnson, I'm JB.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Long.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Thanks to all of you for joining us for Rams
Revealed presented by Sleep Number
Everyone well, Hello, and welcome to RAMS Revealed. I'm your
host JB. Longing Here in twenty twenty four. We are
presented by Sleep Number, the RAMS sleep and Wellness partner.
Our guest is a twenty six year old from Minneapolis.
He's coming off a career performance in Detroit, which we
will certainly get to. RAMS receiver Tyler Johnson joins us,
thanks for being here. I appreciate it, appreciate you for
(00:23):
having me. I know it is a quick turnaround after
taking the lines to overtime. How are you and the
Rams taking that week one loss?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I just got to bounce back. You know, we got
some things to learn from, but overall, as a team,
we saw some things that we like and that we
definitely would improve on.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Take us inside the huddle. When you're at Ford Field
and it's like one hundred and fifteen decibels and you're
trying to get the play call from Matthew Stafford. What's
that like?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I would say, my first time in the huddle yesterday
was kind of loud, But after that I felt like
I was so dialed in that the crowd noise really
didn't even have an effect on me personally. But from
a standpoint, It definitely was loud out there, though I
will say that, you know, just being able to hear there,
they had a good atmosphere there. Definitely was one of
(01:10):
my favorite places to play us so far.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Though for sure football is very much a next man
up sport. But last night, those are some circumstances on
the road. You set your roster, you set your game plan,
and then things to start to kind of fall apart.
How do you think your group specifically responded to that adversity?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Oh, I mean, we just played for each other, honestly.
You know, we got a good room that cares about
one another, and we all know we can all make plays.
So just going out there, trusting ourselves, trusting each other,
and just going out there and whatever our numbers squaed,
just making the play.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
You certainly did make a play contributing to that two
touchdown deficit comeback that you nearly overcame yesterday. The longest
catch of your career sixty three yards set it up
for us. Will you give us the play by play?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So we're in a huddle, Matt, you know, he caught
a play and I'm like, all right, I got a
shallow right here. So just wanted to stutter them at
the line of scrimmage real quick. And once I once
I stuttered them real quick, I just knew I had
to get from point A to point BE real quick.
You know. Nine did a great job just placing it
on one of my shoulders, the ball on one of
my shoulders and allowing me to have him be my
(02:14):
eyes for real, you know. So I took that as
all right, let me just turn this away with this catch,
and after that, I just saw green grass. It just
started rolling, started rolling.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Seeing it in real time, We're like, oh, that's the
biggest play of Tyler's rams career. As you're going, do
you know that's the biggest play I've ever made in
the NFL. I know you scored touchdowns before, but like,
that's the biggest game. You can feel that in real time?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, most death, most death. I definitely knew that. As
I was running, I would say, I'm like, you know,
I've been I've been running for a while right here.
But it's it's a blessing, man, It's truly a blessing
to be able to play a child's game, which I'd
love to do.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Did you happen to see this from the NFL's official
social media account. I want to give that a read.
Can you make that sound?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Tyler Johnson really says skirt, Yeah, skirting it out of there,
gotta get out of there.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Slammed on the brakes and got started pretty good, didn't you, sir?
Seventy nine yards in a game that was also a
career best and one of your previous best games actually
came against the Rams. You remember that one playing for
the Buccaneers. I do for three catches in sixty three. Yes, sir,
nice to have you on this side of the equations.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
A blessing man, Yes, sir, feel good to be over here.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
So your guy, Cooper Cup goes to the podium afterward
and he says, they call you Playmaker. I didn't know
you had a nickname.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I mean, that's what Coach Yards shout out the yarps.
That's what he called me ever since I got here.
He said, gave me that name for a reason. You know,
he said, every time I go out there on the field,
I'm just liable to make a play. So it's truly
an honored to have somebody else nickname you. And whenever
they can nickname you something like that, you know it
(03:49):
just it just says a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
How great is Yarps, Like you can't have a bad
day around that guy at all.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
He brings the energy every day man, you know, just
just from from the time you see him to you know,
he's just gonna bring the best out of you for sure.
So it's amazing to have him as a coach.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
No, Tyler, if Pooket is out for any stretch of time,
and even if he's not, your time could be now.
It feels like, how ready are you to be a
more consistent contributor on offense for the Rams?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I would say, I'm ready, man, I'm excited. God's placed
me here for a reason, you know. So I've just
got to continue to trust him, trust the plan he
has for me, and I'll just continue to be still
and be ready and in the moment, you know, So
whenever my number is called, I'm just going to continue
to do the things that I've been doing my entire
life that got me here. So but like I said, man,
(04:35):
I'm just excited, excited to contribute to this amazing team,
make plays and just have fun.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
When friends and family ask you what's it like to
catch you pass for Matthew Stafford. What's it feel like?
Does it come out of the hand different than something
you're used to previously?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I mean football is football? Really? Nine is amazing though, Man,
he's the real deal. The way he could just know,
look passes and you know, put the uh put the
ball on a on a dime wherever. You know, he's
amazing being able to watch him from afar and now
be a teammate. Uh. He just a He's just a
(05:09):
cool dude.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Man.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
He got that swagger to him for real. So but yeah,
shout out to nine though.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Can we walk through the Tyler Johnson biography in short,
if you don't mind, give an audience a sense to
who you are and where you came from.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Uh yeah, So Tyler Johnson, I'm from North Minneapolis, Minnesota.
I went to Minneapolis North High School. I played basketball, football, baseball.
I played hockey for for a year. I played hockey.
I did play hockey for a winner. But yeah, so
(05:44):
just a been an athlete my whole life for real.
I'm the oldest of six. I love my siblings, you know,
and but yeah that's a little bit about me for real.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I want to fall up on a few things there
but you on ice skates. Yeah, kind of avelossity. We're
talking about GPS on the field or on ice skates.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I mean at the start, at the start of the year,
it was it was a little rough. It was a
little rough. But as the year went on, you know,
like I said, I'm an athlete, so I started to
get good at pretty much everything that I do, you know.
But that was only for one because it was it
was too cold. So but basketball, football and baseball was
was really the sports though.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I read in your local paper this morning that Minneapolis
is literally inked in black cursive across your chest. You
have that tattoo in the skyline. That's how much it
means to you, yes, sir. And then there's an NFL
tattoo on your arm. But that wasn't like projecting your
football future necessarily. What does that stand for.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
It's still for North Side for life. So it's really
one from like I said, North Minneapolis. And I take
a lot of pride in that, you know, I take
a lot of pride in my city just to be
able to impact others, you know, let them know that
there is a way out, you know, so to all
the ones that's coming up to anywhere anybody around the world.
(06:56):
You know that that that sees this. But just to
let them know that no matter where you from, you
know you can make it out. There's there's a lot
of there's a lot of things out there in life.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I know your mom had multiple generations of her family
from that area. In fact, did you guys go to
the same high school?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, I went to the same high school as my mother.
My pops she went to He graduated from the rival
high school.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:16):
So?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
But but yeah, man, he my dog though, but every
time I played against the high school, he knew what
I had to do. He understood.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
But you really made an imprint on that program from
what I read like winless the year before you enrolled
the program in Jeopardy two wins your freshman year to
a state championship game as a senior. How did you
help grow that program in that school?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It's my friends around man, Honestly, we all stuck through
the tough times like it was. It was it was.
I ain't gonna lie it was. It was super tough
because I went from playing Lily football and winning every
game from from the first time I stepped on the
field till eighth grade and then getting the ninth grade
(08:00):
and we'll go out there and just win two games.
And it was like it was shocking to me, you know,
it was it was uncomfortable. But I had a good
group of guys around, you know, we all stuck through it.
We had some good some good teachers in the school
that say, you know, if if y'all stay, y'all stay here,
you know, y'all got a chance by the time you
guys are juniors a senior. So and that actually happened.
(08:20):
So uh but like I said, I met my friends, man,
they m they my boys. They my boys for sure.
Just being able to have them by my side and
us be able to flip that thing from down to
up was just like it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Is that number ten still unofficially retired or officially retired retired? Now?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Ye, I don't I don't know what it is, man,
but you know I I I won't be seeing nobody
in it. And it's an honor to really have a
unretired retired jersey. But uh, it's a blessing though, man,
just to be able to have something to go back
and and be honored, you know, in my community, you know,
just to be able to see that love and support,
it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
So when you have a chance to stay home and
play for the Gold and Gophers, was that automatic?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
And I wouldn't say automatic, honestly. I explored my options
a little bit, but it just felt right, you know,
it felt right, It felt like the fit for me.
And it turns out it was the fifth It was,
you know, so amazing experience there, got my degree. Yeah,
you know, so it all worked out so.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
You could have gone pro after your junior year, but
instead you become the first member of your family to
get a four year college degree. Yes, sir, And then
you have an amazing senior season for those who don't know,
eighty six catches over thirteen hundred yards, thirteen touchdowns, all
of which led the Big Ten and set new single
season school records. In fact, I found gophersports dot com,
(09:44):
the official site of Minnesota athletics, recently ranked the best
receivers in program history. I bring this up for a
couple of reasons. One because you're number one, so good
on you. The other names there are pretty cool too,
Eric Decker, who had a nice career with the Broncos,
and Jets. Ron Johnson went to Baltimore than played in
the Arena League. But fourth on that list is a
familiar name to our audience too. Out well to father, Yeah,
(10:09):
preceded you. It was a great receiver for the Golden Gophers.
So that's another neat time. All right, fast forward to
spring twenty twenty. I'm sure you remember this time. I
was actually in Tampa in March of that year, right,
so the pandemic hits, tom Brady's signing with the Bucks,
and then a few weeks later the draft and you
find out you're going to be a buccaneer and you're
gonna be playing with the goat. What do you remember
(10:30):
about that time?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I remember Tom Brady hitting my phone after I get drafted,
just congratulating me or whatever. You know, I'm chilling with
my boys, and I actually didn't know how to respond,
you know, I'm like, wow, this is Tom Brady hit
me up right now? Like what do I say back? Like?
You know, so I was really in shock. But I
remember going down there to work out with him and
(10:54):
the rest of the guys, and they just welcomed me
with open arms. You know. Taught me a lot of
along the way and just been helpful throughout this process
that I've been having in his league.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
All right, So when he hits you up, like the
color I D doesn't say Tom Brady future Hall of Famer,
like it just says, hey, Tyler, this is Tom.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Are you think you're being punked?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Nah? I didn't think I was being punked at all.
I knew it had it been real, you know, I knew.
So I was just like, wow, man, this is crazy.
Like what do I say back to this?
Speaker 1 (11:25):
You know?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
So ended up texting H back.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Did it was probably a good yeah?
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Yeah, yeah. Most de had to earn.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
You a few targets, and ten months later you're a
Super Bowl champion. What a quick turn of events. In fact,
you drew it proved to be the game clinching pass interference.
Is that the right way to kind of say it?
Against in the NFC championship game? The Bucks beat the
Chiefs in Super Bowl fifty five. So you're playing in
the Super Bowl as a rookie. But it's a super
Bowl unlike any super Bowl prior to it. It must
(11:52):
have been surreal, probably not what you dreamed of as
a football player, getting a chance to play on the
Globe's biggest stage.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
No, I definitely was still a dream still, Like I
I can close my eyes and see see the whole
scenery one more time, you know. But it was an
amazing time though, just to be out there, be able
to go out there and do what we did that year.
You know, we we went on a run to to
finish that year out like wing, like eight games in
a row or something like that. But yeah, it was.
(12:20):
It was an amazing time though, for sure.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
So I wonder what it was like then to be
waved at the end of that next summer. Right You're
you're on the rise, you contribute to a championship, and
next thing you know, you're looking for your next NFL home.
What was that like?
Speaker 2 (12:32):
It was rough, man, Honestly, it was really rough. But
looking back on it, it's definitely shaped me into who
I am today. You know, at the time, I didn't
understand what God was doing to me and why he
was doing the things that He's done to me. But oh,
now that I look back, and it was it was
all for a reason. You know. I was able to
(12:52):
uh learn myself as a man, learn myself as a player,
you know, find things out about myself. You know, it
was like growing pains. Honestly. I figured out things that
I needed to work on, whether that was route running,
you know, creating separation, little small things in my game.
And over these past what three years now, I've definitely
(13:13):
been digging deep, deep in my bag now and then
just let my game just show.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Now, let me quickly connect the dots. Because you go
to Houston for a couple of months, then back to
Tampa Bay on the practice squad. You spend the first
half of the twenty three offseason with Las Vegas, and
then the Rams signed you in May of last summer.
Do you remember your early impressions of joining not just
this organization, but specifically this coaching staff and this offense.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
It felt real whenever I first got here. Honestly, I
remember my agent calling me saying that the Rams wanted me,
you know, and I'm like, for real, Like no workout, no,
nothing like like na, they just want you, Like can
you be there Monday. I'm like, man, I'm ready, so
get here, meet the coaches, just talk to them and
go out for practice or whatever. And they just all
(13:59):
felt like like everything was just clicking, you know, everything
was just clicking. And over time. You know, obviously I was.
I was a little upset that I was I didn't
make the active roster last year. But like I said,
everything happens for a reason, and I just came in
every day with the same mindset, the same attitude, you know,
get one percent better day in and day out, you know,
(14:20):
control what I can control. And and I did that.
You know, I was still I was still coming in here,
not powering, you know, just being being what I had
to be, you know, I was. I was helping the
defense out. That was that was my role last year.
I had to I had I had to take that role,
put that role on every single day. At the end
of the day when I would get home, yeah, I'll
(14:40):
be a little frustrated, But like I said, it was
all for a reason. Man. I was able to work
on myself as a player more more than I ever
been in my life, you know. And I think that
last year was really the year that that I truly
found who I am, you know. So it's a blessing.
I'm thankful for the last year of my life. Honestly,
(15:03):
I'm thankful that God placed me where he placed me
so I can be able to go out here and
flourish and continue to shine be an impact.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
You know. Kind of in my memory, I feel like
you and de Marcus almost coming together that summer, and
there was a cool moment where you're micd up in
the preseason. You and de Marcus are just kind of
sitting on the bench watching the game talking about your
love for football. That's kind of my first exposure to
you as a person and how much this means to you,
and I really appreciate the contributions that you both have
made to the Rams and your patience with which it
(15:35):
kind of took for him to get that four game
rip of touchdowns in the playoff push. You finished last
year getting your first chance as a Ram right in
Week eighteen and that touchdown against the Niners it had
been three years. How good did that feel?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Felt? Amazing? Man, Scoring in the league is hard. It's
very difficult for real. But like I said, it's a
blessing to be able to play a child's game honestly
and as my job as my career. So I thank
God every single day, every single time I step on
that field just to be able to go out there
and continue to play, you know. And but like I said,
(16:09):
I love it, man, and it's something that I want
to do until I really can't do it no more,
you know. So it's just it's just fun to me.
It's like I said, a big blessing.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
I can't wait for your next one and the first
for Matthew right from Tom one from Carson Wentz. Now
we need to get you on from Matthew. Yes, all right,
time now for a new segment we're calling the wind Down,
brought you by Sleep Number. Each week here on Rams Revealed,
we'll get insight into how sleep and recovery impacts performance
in the NFL. So, Tyler, the RAMS are traveling over
twenty four thousand miles this season on your schedule, So
(16:40):
I wonder how you keep your consistent sleep schedule while
traveling to places like Detroit to ensure you're getting proper
rest and recovery.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Uh, well, my sleep is very important to me. I
love my sleep, I would say, definitely on the plane,
make sure I get a little nap in, get to
the hotel. You know, if we ever get a little break,
make sure I get another nap in. But yeah, just
making sure that you know I'm waking up when I
(17:10):
gotta wake up waking up a little early before the
next meeting or whatever it is. But yeah, whenever I
get to sleep, though, I definitely close these eyes for
a little bit.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
I mean, it's impressive. You're way sharper than I am.
I feel foggy. You look like you're ready to go.
Because take us through this postgame in Detroit. I'm trying
to wind it back. We're wheels up at what like
two am Eastern more or less. Yeah, you get some
sleep on the plane, maybe not great.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Every once in a while I was like, up and
go to sleep, up, go to sleep.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So we land at three. You're back here at the
facility Monday at what ten for a treatment and lyft.
Maybe that's what I was missing. I didn't get a
massage and a lift in. That's why I'm off day Tuesday.
Then Cardinals pep prep begins for real. Let's finish with
a couple rapid fire ones. Okay, Tyler, we'll get you
onto your day off. As we pointed out, you caught
(17:57):
your first career touchdown pass from Tom Brady that was
against the Packers, and I wonder how you think now
the Goat's going to be on TV as a color analyst.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
I feel like he's gonna be amazing. Man. I feel like,
you know, I know, you know what he's talking about.
So but I'm excited for him. You know, whenever I
get a chance to watch Him'm definitely gonna watch. I
know he watching me, you know, And but yeah, I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
I was gonna say, I'm more excited for him to
watch you. He's going to be on the call in
week four when you go play the Chicago Bears. Okay,
so show out that game. Sure he can talk about
your connection. He probably remembers that text message he's sent you.
Back in the spring of twenty your college career was
capped by what a twelve catch, two hundred and four
yard two touchdown performance against Auburn and the Outback Bowl
h That catch on the goalpost was sick, by the way. Yeah,
(18:42):
I went and saw that one again this morning. Appreciate
you were the Outback Bowl MVP, which leads me to ask,
could you finish a blooming onion by yourself? No? What
if I helped?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
I mean help probably would be needed. For sure.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
I'm more of like the brown bread and butter guy
you ever have that never no wondering it's such good shape.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
That's my nemesis.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Funny you finish your college career right where you start
your pro career though, right at Raymond James was meant
to be. Next stop State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Week two. Go get that win for the Rams. Okay
most death, Tyler. Thank you for some of your time.
We wish you a great week of preparation. Can't wait
to see more on the field for Tyler Johnson, I'm JB.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Long.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Thanks to all of you for joining us for Rams
Revealed presented by Sleep Number
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