Scott Brincks

Every athlete faces the moment when it’s time to move on, time to hang up the gear and time to face a future away from the field or court.

Chris Johnson would love to keep playing football and continues to work out several days a week just in case a pro chance comes — and because he likes it — but the former McCallie School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout linebacker is realistic about his future.

“I’ll definitely explore any opportunity that comes my way. I’m not going to give up yet, but at the same time I have to start thinking about what’s next for me (beyond football),” Johnson said.

“I try not to think about it too much. Every time I think about it, knowing that I’m probably not going to play again, it stings a little bit. I’ve got to learn how to be a fan now.”

Johnson, who was second-team All-Southern Conference twice and finished with 255 career tackles — 10th all-time at UTC — said he has about a year of school left before he graduates with a degree in business administration.

Where that degree will take him, he doesn’t know. What he does know is that he wants to give back to his community in some capacity.

“I’m not sure what I want to do, but I think I definitely want to be in a position to give back, because so many people helped me along the way to get to the position where I am now,” he said. “I think my purpose for being here on earth is to be able to help people out, especially kids.”

Johnson said he’s considered coaching, but the deterrent there is “those guys look stressed out 24-7,” he said with a laugh. Still, the idea of teaching what he knows about the game is appealing.

Normally a man of few words, Johnson speaks passionately about how grateful he is for the opportunities he’s had. He said McCallie took a chance on him because his test scores weren’t quite to the school’s standards, and when that door was opened it led to the chance to play college football — in his hometown, no less.

“It’s kind of funny how things have fallen my way. I think once I look back on it, I’ll realize that it didn’t have to be me,” he said. “Somehow somebody set whatever aside and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to help this kid out.’”

For those who know him well, it’s easy to see why. Mocs coach Rodney Allison said Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound strongside linebacker and the heart of his defense the past three seasons, is among his all-time favorite players.

“He’s going to go down here, in my mind, as one of the hardest-working, hardest-practicing, hardest-playing guys that’s played here,” Allison said. “Obviously he had some ability, but he loved to play football and that’s somewhat rare in this day. He practiced as hard as he played on Saturdays.”

In a lot of ways, Allison said, Johnson’s senior season epitomized the young man. In the opener against Carson-Newman, Johnson dislocated his right shoulder on the Eagles’ first drive, missing the rest of the game.

The next day he was diagnosed with a torn labrum, which required surgery after the season, but he was back, full speed ahead, at the Mocs’ next practice.

“I’ll never forget that Monday,” Allison said. “We’re in shorts and shoulder pads and he is dressed and ready to go. He didn’t think anything else except, ‘I’m supposed to go to practice.’ That’s the way he was since the day he got here, and that’s the way Eldra (Buckley) was from the day he got here. Those two guys, they showed up every day regardless of what was wrong with them.”

Not only did Johnson play through pain — he played in all 44 games in his career — but he excelled despite it, finishing second on the team with 84 tackles, including nine for loss and five sacks.

“He’s an exceptional young man that will do everything you ask of him and more,” said Scott Brincks, UTC’s strength and conditioning coach. “He’s the epitome of what a hard-working athlete should be.”

The years passed quickly, Johnson said, but the memories will stay with him forever, whether it’s the big games against Baylor when he was a Blue Tornado or some of the good times with the Mocs, on and off the field.

“There’s a lot I’m going to miss,” he said. “But I have a lot to look forward to, also. I’m just happy and grateful to be where I am right now.”

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