Page 11 - Summer 2021

At the conclusion of his NFL career in 2008, the Johnsons “We used to work out together in the spring,” Brad recalled.
chose to relocate to Athens. They purchased a home in
Five Points, which turned out to be a reunion of sorts since it put them in close proximity to nearly all of their family. There was little idle time for Brad, who jumped at the opportunity to be a volunteer coach at Prince Avenue Christian
School, where their sons, Max and Jake, had enrolled.
“We made the move up here, and it was a bold move,” Brad said. “We had been established in Tallahassee since my college days. But we felt like family was the most important thing at the
end of the day.”
Three years later, Brad and Nikki decided to settle in Oconee
County. They built a house in a subdivision off Daniells Bridge Road that they still call home today. Max and Jake both transferred to Oconee County High School.
Brad first met current Oconee County football coach Travis Noland in 1987 when the two attended rival high schools in North Carolina.
At left, brothers Jake Johnson, left, and Max Johnson, right, brag on their father, Super Bowl MVP Brad Johnson.
“The relationship began when we made that connection.” Noland was hired in 2014 to lead the Warrior football program in Watkinsville. So it came as no surprise that the two long-time friends struck a deal for Brad to become the program’s
quarterbacks coach on a volunteer basis.
Brad’s duties range from participating in all meetings and
overseeing the quarterbacks to setting up water buckets and lining the field with pylons on game day.
“Brad has been a tremendous influence on all the kids in the program, not just the quarterbacks,” Noland said. “And Nikki is very involved with our program by feeding the players through a group known as the Mother’s Huddle.”
Friday nights proved to be a logistical challenge for Brad and Nikki last fall. After watching Jake and the Warriors play, the Johnsons scrambled back to their residence to prepare to hit the road to watch Max play college football at Louisiana State University on Saturdays. Following a stellar career for the
SUMMER 2021 | OcONEE ThE MAgAzINE | PAgE 9