HOUSTON – Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson was honored Friday during a pep rally at his alma mater with his jersey retired at Humble High School.
The former Texas A&M and NFL quarterback, the position coach for Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud, was honored at the Wildcats’ gymnasium named after his father, Larry Johnson. Johnson was a principal at the school who passed away in 2007.
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Thank you @FootballHumble,” Johnson wrote on social media. “A day my family and I will never forget.
Thank you @FootballHumble . A day my family and I will never forget. https://t.co/bRGzlsO4sA
— Jerrod Johnson (@JerrodJohnson1) September 6, 2024
At Humble, Johnson was named Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year. His jersey was retired along with former Humble and NFL players Bertrand Berry, Sammy Davis, Jackie Battle, David Boston and David Givens.
Johnson remained with the AFC South champions under an upgraded contract that includes a major raise after interviewing for multiple offensive coordinator positions this offseason, according to league sources.
The lure of remaining with the Texans and continuing to coach star quarterback C.J. Stroud and keep building with his hometown team was a powerful force for Johnson.
Johnson interviewed in-person for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator job, according to league sources.
Johnson interviewed twice New Orleans Saints for their offensive coordinator vacancy according to a league source.
Johnson interviewed virtually Monday with the Saints and in-person with the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles in addition to the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, per sources.
Johnson quickly emerged as one of the hottest offensive coordinator candidates in the league before remaining with the Texans.
Johnson is highly regarded for his work with Texans standout rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the frontrunner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Stroud consistently praised Johnson and cited their strong relationship that goes back to Elite 11 work together when he was in high school.
Stroud, the second overall pick and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State, regards Johnson as instrumental in his growth as a quarterback as they first began working together when the Rancho Cucamonga, California native was 16 years old.
“One thing that I can say about Jerrod, you talk about somehow who knows how to play the position of quarterback and knows how to relay something, but also just a great person, man,” Stroud said. “A guy who loves football, he loves Houston, he loves Texas. He loves his family, he’s a great family man. Someone who has just taught me a tremendous amount of information, but on top of that, put a lot of confidence into me as well.”
At the time, Stroud wasn’t as well-known as a quarterback and was seeking to establish himself as a recruit. He wound up outperforming his friend, Carolina Panthers quarterback and top overall pick Bryce Young. Johnson encouraged Stroud to believe in himself.
“Jerrod’s one thing for me was like, ‘Be confident,’” Stroud said. “At that time, I wasn’t really the highest recruit. I wasn’t who I would become. Jerrod is someone I looked up to. When he was like, ‘Man, you need to be more confident,’ it changed my life. From there, fast forward and now I’m here with him my rookie year, it’s been just a blessing to work with him and, whatever happens, I’m excited for him, and he deserves everything that’s coming for him. I’m super blessed to be able to work with him.”
Stroud became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game, surpassing his childhood idol, Michael Vick. He began his career with an NFL record 191 passes without an interception, finished the season with 198 passes without an interception and finished with 4,108 yards in the regular season, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Stroud joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to lead the league in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio.
“Yeah, you can’t talk about C.J.’s success without talking about Jerrod, and what he was able to do, the relationship he had with him,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Just being there for him as a position coach. Teaching him, guiding him along the way – Jerrod is one of the reasons why C.J. had a successful year.”
A former record-setting Texas A&M quarterback who also played for the Aggies basketball team, Johnson embraced this opportunity as the Humble High School graduate coaches for his hometown team.
“I see myself as a teacher,” Johnson told KPRC 2 earlier this season. “My biggest thing is I want to teach. Whatever is needed of the players in the room, from Case Keenum, to Davis Mills, to C.J., whatever I can do to teach and give them whatever they need, I try to be transparent and open and honest with them.
“I really want feedback from them. Does this feel comfortable or does it not feel comfortable? It’s a back-and-forth, but, at the same time, we have a strong room with guys who are smart and who care. Anytime you have guys like that, it’s a joy to coach them.”
Johnson was previously the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings, working closely with coach Kevin O’Connell and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. He interviewed for the Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator job that went to former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Johnson is a former Indianapolis Colts offensive quality control coach who joined the Vikings in 2022.
Johnson has also coached for the San Francisco 49ers under a Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship. He was promoted three years ago to his previous role with the Colts. He interviewed three years ago for the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterbacks coaching position.
Johnson finished his college career with a school-record 8,011 passing yards and 8,888 yards of total offense and also played on the Aggies basketball team. A second-team All-Big 12 selection, Johnson was the program’s all-time leader in attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns before Kellen Mond broke those records.
Although Johnson went undrafted, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Hartford Colonials, and Sacramento Mountain Lions.
Johnson is a former assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at St. Thomas High School in Houston.
He played in the East-West Shrine Bowl in 2011 and later coached at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Johnson has enjoyed coaching Stroud.
“Absolutely, he’s a super mature kid,” Johnson told KPRC 2. “He has a great foundation. He played a lot of big-time football in college, and it doesn’t seem too big for him.
As the Texans’ first-year quarterbacks coach, Johnson was tasked with a pivotal, plum assignment: developing and building the skills and knowledge of Stroud, the second overall pick of the draft and a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State,
His roots in Humble are what built Johnson into a coach.
“It meant everything,” Johnson said. “My dad was a coach there, and a principal there. That’s our family roots. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the village of people who raised me in Humble, Texas. I’m forever indebted to Humble and I love my hometown and that’s the foundation of who I am as a person.”
Coaching for his hometown team is emotionally significant for Johnson as he and his wife, Braidee, are the parents of a baby girl. Jersie Drew Johnson.
“It’s really special, especially with my family, my wife Braidee and our little girl, for me to get the opportunity to do what I love in the city that I grew up in,” Johnson said. “It’s a dream come true. I’m really blessed. It’s an emotional thing to be around my family and have our family around our newborn. For us to start our family in my hometown is a godsend.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
