HOUSTON – Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator job, per a league source.
Johnson is one of the Texans’ top candidates for their offensive coordinator vacancy, per sources.
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Johnson also interviewed for the New York Jets job, per a source, that went to former Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
The Raiders are also considering Miami Dolphins assistant coach Darrell Bevell as one of the leading contenders for the job with multiple NFL sources predicting he will land that job.
When C.J. Stroud was in high school, he was an overlooked recruit looking to establish himself as someone worthy of scholarship offers from top college football programs.
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One of the most pivotal steps in his development and in raising awareness about the future Texans and Ohio State starting quarterback was his participation in the Elite 11 competition.
That was when Stroud first began collaborating with whom the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year regards as instrumental in his overall growth.
Johnson, 36, a Humble native and Texas A&M standout quarterback who played for six different NFL teams, interviewed Monday for the Texans’ offensive coordinator job and is regarded as a top internal candidate as a potential replacement for former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, according to league sources. The New York Jets, now coached by Houston native and former Texas A&M All-American cornerback Aaron Glenn, are also expected to pursue an interview with Johnson, per sources.
Johnson has coached Stroud, a former second overall pick and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, for his first two NFL seasons and first began working with Stroud when the Rancho Cucamonga, California native was 16 years old.
Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson’s jersey retired at Humble High School
“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.”
When Stroud wasn’t as well-known as a quarterback, 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.”
Johnson interviewed last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots,
Johnson quickly emerged as one of the hottest offensive coordinator candidates in the league before remaining with the Texans under an upgraded contract that included a higher salary.
Stroud, 23, 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 after Stroud’s rookie year. “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.”
Stroud dipped to 20 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions as a second-year pro. He was also sacked 52 times during the regular season and, under heavy duress, occasionally had some lapses in his fundamentals. Anything with Stroud is regarded as fixable, though, with better protection and a healthier receiving corps. Both Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell were lost for the season due to major knee injuries.
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 during his first season with the Texans. “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.
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’ quarterbacks coach, Johnson was tasked with a pivotal, plum assignment: developing and building the skills and knowledge of Stroud.
After playing for his late father, Larry Johnson, in high school, excelling for the Aggies, then playing in the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game and going undrafted, Johnson played quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Hartford Colonials, and Sacramento Mountain Lions.
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.”
#Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson at #NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit displaying drills he uses with C.J. Stroud @CJ7STROUD Davis Mills @Millsions and Case Keenum @casekeenum to 'create anxiety' and ability to adapt on the fly and react to find and hit targets @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/SrUgifJ3iI
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 23, 2023
Johnson has participated in the NFL Coach Accelerator program in Minneapolis as one of 40 diverse coaches selected for their high potential to be considered as a potential head coaching candidate in the future.. The Coach Accelerator program aims to increase exposure between owners, executives, and diverse coaching talent, providing ample opportunity to develop and build upon their relationships
“It was a unique experience,” Johnson said. “It’s a couple of days to think in a different framework, to understand the big picture of the NFL and the things that go into potentially advancing in a career. Being a position coach, we love diving in and getting into the X’s and O’s. That’s why I love ball.
“To be exposed to some great coaches and older coaches who have been through a lot and even some of the professional development they did in dealing with all the aspects in dealing with the NFL, I think it’s going to be good for my career. We had a round table where we met several owners from around the league. That was unique in itself. I never knew that I would have the opportunity to do that and they were very gracious to be open and talk with us and learn about us.”
#Texans @HoustonTexans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson @JerrodJohnson1 on his journey in coaching since his playing career @AggieFootball @kprc2 at #NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit pic.twitter.com/CzRojqv2xH
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 23, 2023
Johnson discussed his goals in coaching.
“I aspire, absolutely,” Johnson said. “I think every coach aspires to get to that point. The cool thing is that you don’t go in there without winning. It’s a team game. I grew up playing, and I’m here to help the quarterbacks get better. If you do a good job, good things will happen. I pour into the players. I pour into the coaches, and that’s all that matters right now..”
Johnson first coached Stroud at the prestigious Elite 11 camp in 2019.
“I met C.J. at a young age,” Johnson said. “To meet him at 17 and go through the draft process with all the other quarterbacks and to see him now as an adult, as a mature kid who’s been through a lot on the field and off the field, to see the man he’s become, it’s good to have that reference point. I’m excited for his future.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
