Former Vikings QB Gets Unique Support From His High School

It’s been almost 20 years since former Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Brad Johnson suited up for the Vikings. He was back in the state a few weeks ago when his son Max, who was the starting Quarterback for the North Carolina Tar Heels, played at the University of Minnesota. 

In that game, Max Johnson suffered a broken leg which required surgery in Hennepin County before he could return to Chapel Hill. The younger Johnson released a statement to Thank the Doctors for his care while here.  

Obviously, this was a significant injury which would cause any parent distress for their child, which I’m sure Brad and his wife Nikki experienced. The injury ended Max's season, and he is waiting to begin rehab to get ready for what he called in media release “a lot of football left in me”. 

That’s a reassuring sight for a parent to see that even though their child has suffered a setback, they have the right mindset to come back stronger.  

Brad Johnson also got another reassuring sight late last week as his former high school, Charles D. Owen in Black Mountain N.C. put a Carolina blue #14 sticker on each player's helmet to show support for their former star and his family.  

Black Mountain is about 20 minutes from Asheville N.C. and is a small tight-knit community who love their Owen Warhorse football team. I grew up about 15 minutes from Black Mountain, on the opposite side of Asheville, and early in my career I spent a year or two broadcasting high school football there on cable television. 

Brad Johnson was still playing in the NFL when I was there, and he was and still is a beloved member of their community even though he lives in Georgia now.  

Brad brands himself on social media as "Big Bad Brad" and is often putting up videos of him performing trick shots with basketballs and footballs.  

I’m sure this wasn’t the return to Minnesota Brad and his family wanted but their son received excellent care here, and he appears to have a bright future ahead of him. I’m also sure it was good for the Johnson family to see Brad’s past remembered and honor them as well.