Getty Tom Brady, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As a rookie wide receiver, a “starstruck” Tyler Johnson of the Los Angeles Rams got to play with Tom Brady, but he quickly realized he had to go from fanboy to coworker.
Still, Brady caught Johnson by surprise when they were teammates on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson told Heavy.
“I remember he sent me a text. And I was just kind of starstruck. I didn’t know what to say back,” Johnson told Heavy at the Rams’ June 14 minicamp session. “I was, like, ‘Damn, Tom Brady just hit my line.’ But I was starstruck, for real, just having access to him and me growing up watching him.”
Tyler Johnson Immediately Had to Shed Fanboy Moment
The Bucs drafted Johnson in the fifth round (161st overall) out of Minnesota in 2020, Brady’s first year in Tampa Bay — and 20th in the league. Johnson was 21 years at the time and Brady had already won six Super Bowls. Over time, the inner fan in Johnson had to be replaced with a serious-coworker demeanor.
“Me being around him, it got normal as time went on and it became, ‘This is my teammate now,'” Johnson told Heavy. “I’m still a fan, but I’m not a fan. This is my teammate.”
Johnson started three games that season, collecting 12 receptions for 169 yards and catching two touchdowns thrown by Brady. He won over Bucs fans with a diving catch in Tampa Bay’s NFC divisional playoff upset over the New Orleans Saints.
Then, against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC championship, Johnson made a critical diving catch with the NFC title on the line. The Bucs went on to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in the Super Bowl. Johnson had one target but no receptions.
During their run to the title, Johnson saw firsthand how fiery Brady was. “Very competitive,” he said. “Tom Brady is one of the greatest of all time.”
Being around him, though, made Johnson want to elevate his own play.
“It was a blessing to be able to be under him so early. It made me want to be better myself,” Johnson said. “He was able to coach me up on some small things for my game and was able to take it up another notch. It just made me realize that there’s no room for error. It made me want to go out there and be great. You want to play up to 110% whenever you’re out on the field with him. I appreciate Tom for all that he’s done for me and all that he’s helped me with. He’s a great guy.”
Tyler Johnson Updates Adjustment to L.A.
Johnson started three games for the Bucs in 2021, catching no touchdowns, and was waived before the 2022 season. He is now on his fourth NFL stop after spending most of 2022 with the Houston Texans and, again, the Buccaneers. And he was briefly signed to a reserve/futures contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in January before signing with the Rams on May 30.
Is this offense one that mimics what he got used to with Brady and the Bucs? Or are the Rams a different speed?
“I mean, football is football,” Johnson told Heavy. “You have a lot of the same concepts but it’s different names. It’s all about being able to learn the football language that’s in the building, so that’s important to me. Like I said, I want to continue learning, so that’s what I want to do.”
Johnson, though, is embracing both his new surroundings and new teammates.
“I love it man. I love the city, I love the culture here that coach [Sean] McVay has for us,” he said. “I’m excited to be here. And I’m thankful to be here. Just ready to showcase my work each day and looking forward to getting one percent better.”
