THIS IS EPISODE 45 OF THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
David Johnson is a running back with the Arizona Cardinals. He was selected in the 3rd round (86th overall) by Arizona in the 2015 NFL Draft.
In his first two seasons, he’s rushed for over 1,800 yards, 32 total touchdowns, and in 2015 was named 1st-team All-Pro and selected to his first Pro Bowl.
Johnson dislocated his wrist in the 3rd quarter of the first game of the 2017 NFL season. He’s expected to be out 2-3 months and possibly return at the end of the year.
Spending four seasons at Northern Iowa, Johnson rushed for over 4,600 yards and had 63 total touchdowns setting numerous records including career rushing yards, career rushing touchdowns, and career all-purpose yards.
David and his wife Meghan are the parents of one son, David Jr – born in January 2017.
On this episode of the podcast, David Johnson shares how he’s dealing with a broken wrist, whether he questioned God when he was injured, how he came to faith in Christ, becoming a Dad and what his biggest spiritual struggle is right now.
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Timeline:
3:35 – How he’s feeling in the aftermath of his dislocated wrist.
4:40 – Has he ever had an injury like this before?
5:20 – What was going through his mind when the injury took place.
6:40 – Did he ever question God after being injured?
8:05 – Was he aware of the fantasy football attention that was coming his way after the injury?
9:30 – When his faith in Jesus Christ began and who helped him grow in his spiritual walk.
11:10 – What was college life like for him at Northern Iowa
12:40 – How he met his wife
14:15 – On marriage and what he’s learned.
15:00 – What he remembers on the day that he was selected by the Cardinals in the NFL Draft.
18:05 – Adapting to the NFL on and off the field.
20:30 – Which teammates he gravitated to as a rookie to help him grow as a player.
24:00 – The team Bible Study, what that is like and how it is run.
28:05 – Comparing his first season to his second season in the NFL.
29:30 – What he is learning as a new Dad.
32:05 – What is his biggest struggle spiritually right now?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXOcWy-AirH/?hl=en&taken-by=davidjohnson31
Favorite Quotes:
“I wasn’t mad at God, I was just upset at myself. I was more upset about the fumble and putting our team in a bad spot.”
“I’m blessed and I thank God for giving me this platform, for giving me the ability and the skill to play in this league. I try not to get down on God. If it wasn’t for Him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“I’m amazed at how God makes miracles in birthing. It was a crazy, amazing moment for me.”
(On what he has learned as a Dad) – “I need to be there, support him. I might not know what I’m doing but just being there. Learning from those mistakes and moments, supporting him. Trying to be there for every milestone. Being there at every developing milestone that he has.”
“God is doing stuff to put me in position to try and be a leader. Sometimes I get scared or I don’t want to. I feel like I might say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing but He’s putting me in that position.”
“I think God is showing us that its important in trying to find a church, a place we can go to and call it our church home.”
“I was more scared becoming a Father than I was coming to Arizona from Iowa.”
