Being drafted by the @Titans changed @ChrisJohnson28’s life. In a letter to his kids, the former running back reflects on his NFL career: “Y’all kids have seen the YouTube highlights, so y’all know full well, for most of my life my body was my career. My speed was what people knew me for. I grew up in my grandmother’s house in Mercy Drive, here in Orlando. It was me, my parents, my great-grandmother, my grandmother, my three older brothers, and two older cousins, all under one roof. You’ve heard all the crazy stories by now, so you know what it was: loud, competitive, and just a whole lotta love. Kinda like our house is now. Back in those days, football was just what we did, how we lived. We played in the streets, empty lots, wherever we could find space. Man, your dad got football memories for days…. Hearing my name called by the Titans on draft day was one of the greatest moments of my life, something I’d dreamed about for as long as I could remember. And I ended up really vibing with Nashville. I loved the people, the fans, and the culture. (And I definitely loved signing that big extension, lol.) Tennessee became home. Something about me, I always felt like I was an underdog since I was a kid. But you know how I’m always telling you guys to believe in yourselves? To bet on yourselves? Well, that’s exactly what I did back then. I took my chance at the combine and made myself undeniable. Went from struggling to changing my peoples’ lives. God blessed your dad with 10 years in the NFL. A career, you know what I’m saying? That’s rare. When I came into the league, I wanted to be a superstar, like MJ or Kobe. My second season, in 2009, you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t. Man, what?? Week 17, breaking the yards from scrimmage record against Seattle is something I’ll never forget. That season I really felt like I was becoming the player I always dreamed I’d be. Winning Offensive Player of the Year and rushing for over 2,000 yards, that meant something to me. It wasn’t just about the numbers either…… It was proof. Proof that all the work I put in and the sacrifices my family made was worth it. Proof I was who I thought I was. Proof I made it out. The thing about an NFL career, though, is that things can get complicated. It’s like I always tell y’all kids, nothing comes easy. And there’s a lot of different ways this game can break your heart. For one, the injuries. That was tough. Also, sometimes football reminds you it’s a business, and I had plenty of those moments. Still, I look back at it all with nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to have played this game at the highest level for 10 years. And I was ME all the way. Your dad was always just CJ. Straight up. Gold teeth and all. From draft night to the very last snap. So I wouldn’t trade that journey for anything. Football gave your dad a platform. And now, I’m in a position to use it in a way I never expected.” playerstribu.ne/ChrisJohnson