Growing up in Liberty City, a poverty stricken neighborhood in Miami, Florida; Randell Johnson had no worries about being a player in the NFL during his sophomore year at North Miami Senior High School. At that time Johnson had a 1.5 grade point average, and was considered academically ineligible to play football. The only thing he was worried about back then was waking up early for a forty-five-minute bus ride to school. Johnson dreaded waking up every morning at six to catch the bus to school, but because his parents did not want him attending his home school Miami Northwestern Senior High School due to its bad rap he obliged. Besides the long bus ride the only other thing that occupied his mind was girls.

“In high school the NFL was never really on my mind like that. I was really worrying about women”, said Johnson. “Football was the last thing on my mind (he starts laughing). I went to school just to see the girls.”

Now three years into his NFL rookie contract with the New York Buffalo Bills; the seventh round, 2014 draft pick spoke about life lessons he learned since being drafted and about the misconceptions he had about being able to purchase anything he desired because he is an NFL player. With a couple of years under his belt Johnson is now well-groomed and better able to handle his new lifestyle.




Johnson stated, “When I first got into the NFL it was really a blessing. You’re at one point in your life where you have the money to buy anything in the world that you want; but then you come to find out it’s not just about you. It’s about your family, and helping out people who are really in need. I just felt that I was blessed to be placed in this position. Because of the type of person that I am: caring, and giving, God blessed me to help others.”

Johnson reminisced about going to Western Union every day to send out money but as soon as he sent out money another hand would already be out asking for more. Unable to resolve everyone’s needs a rift grew between some of his family members. “My people, and my friends expected so much out of me, it kind of hurt me in a way because I felt that I was supposed to make everyone happy, and give everyone whatever they needed. And that’s what I was doing. But giving money didn’t make anyone happy, they just wanted more.”  During his period of trying to please everyone Johnson learned another lesson. He found out that due to fees, and taxes he would only receive about half of the money that he made. This did not go well with his perception of entering the NFL where he thought that he was going to be able to to purchase a house, two cars, etc. The reality he now knows is that only about 2-4 players in his locker room are actually millionaires.

Adjusting to varying situations is one thing Johnson seems to be pretty good at doing. Initially when he entered the league, he was drafted as an outside linebacker, now in his third year he mentions he will be used as an inside linebacker. Knowing what’s at stake he has no problem making the switch. According to Johnson, “It’s a job, everyday somebody’s getting cut, you walk in the door somebody’s gonna get cut! This isn’t a regular job.”.

Getting things done by any means necessary is a skill the Bills linebacker developed earlier as a teen. For example, his middle school career ended in ninth grade with a 1.5 GPA. Growing up Johnson played little league football, but because of his GPA he never envisioned himself playing football at NMSHS. Until one day in tenth grade a substitute teacher named Horane Allison (Johnson’s head football coach in twelfth grade), asked Johnson how come he didn’t play football, and convinced him to come out for the school’s football team. After two years of lifting weights, and taking Honors classes he became academically eligible to play. During his senior year he played linebacker, and tight end. Although Johnson only played one year in high school he performed well enough to get noticed, and had several college scholarship offers (FAU, ASU, CSU, USF, MTSU, and Hofstra). He elected to play at (FAU), Florida Atlantic University.

According to Nexon Dorvilus’s reflections; one of Johnson’s closest friends who was also his high school and college teammate, “When I first met him I thought he was arrogant and I didn’t like him very much. I attest it to two “Type A” personalities in one setting. But after I got to know him, I learned that I mistook his confidence for attitude. His work ethic and passion left no doubt in me that he’d be successful in this sport or anything he put his mind to.”




The work ethic, and passion mentioned by Dorvilus carried over at FAU for Johnson. As a redshirt freshman he became a starter, but at the end of the season with four games left, he broke 3 of his vertebrates. After relearning how to walk, within eleven months Johnson reclaimed his starting spot during his sophomore year. After overcoming an injury that could have sidelined his career permanently, Johnson was faced with a new obstacle. A new coaching staff. A new coaching staff meant coaches would play the players they brought in, and that was exactly what happened. Johnson was no longer a starter, and was used sparingly during his junior, and senior seasons. However, when Johnson did go in, he did not let his playing time go to waste, and when he played special teams he made sure that his presence was felt. Fortunately, because he had enough film, and had a great pro-day Randell Johnson was blessed with enough of what was needed and it catapulted him to the position he’s in now.

“He isn’t taking this opportunity for granted”, said Dorvilus. “He understands that it can be taken away at any moment and he operates as such. No matter what role he has on that team, he works as if any day is his last.”

Johnson once quoted Buffalo Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan “It’s easier to win the lottery than to play in the NFL.”. Knowing this Johnson plans to take full advantage of his winning ticket.