German NFL professional Jakob Johnson just made it into the New York Giants squad. But there is also reason to celebrate off the field.
It was an exciting summer break for Jakob Johnson. The German NFL player had to wait months to be offered a new contract, then happy news and setbacks came almost daily. It was only in mid-August that the 29-year-old signed a contract with the New York Giants that will earn him $1.125 million (around one million euros) for the coming season. But although Johnson showed good performances in the Giants’ test games, he was released by the New Yorkers on August 27th.
Just one day later, the Swabian was again signed by the Giants for the so-called practice squad, a training group that includes several players who can be called up to the NFL team’s squad in the event of an injury. But the 29-year-old didn’t have to wait that long, because one day later Johnson was called up to the Giants’ 53-player squad – and immediately benefited from the injury of a regular player.
NFL: Jakob Johnson becomes father for the first time
Johnson is one of three Germans, along with Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions and Brandon Coleman of the Washington Commanders, who have made it onto the roster of an NFL team. Johnson could also be the first German to play on the field at an NFL game on German soil. On November 10, the Giants will face the Carolina Panthers in Munich.
The coming weeks and months are likely to be exciting for the German, who plays fullback, as changes are also on the horizon in his private life. “I’m going to be a father and of course I’m really looking forward to it,” says the 29-year-old in the RTL documentary “Jakob Johnson – Never Give Up,” which will be broadcast for the first time on RTL from 12:35 a.m. on Friday night in the run-up to the season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens and is already available on RTL+. “Now the results and ultimately the goals are no longer as important as the way in which you achieve them,” says Johnson in the documentary. The moment will come when his daughter or son will look back on their father’s NFL time. “I want to leave something behind that my children can be proud of,” says Johnson.
Transparency note: Der stern is part of RTL Deutschland.
Source: Stern
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