Commanders QB Josh Johnson (Post-Game Transcript)
On the team’s victory:
“It’s unexplainable, man. I know to the rest of the world, this might not mean nothing, but just the journey I’ve been on. Last time I was in this building, I thought my career was over and to just go out here and win today, not just win, but how we won it. Through adversity, an interception, we fumbled the snap, the defense stood tall, but for us to come together in [unison], get this win, I think it was a great one. I think that’s the best thing I can say.”
On preparing to face a team resting their starters:
“I think this team, we just kind of got to play what you see and I just kind of relied on my experience of just planning for a big one. When I was with the 49ers, [Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio] was our defensive coordinator, so understanding his philosophy and just kind of being involved with the game. As it played out, they were throwing different things at us and it just got to the point you got to play what you see every snap and try to go out and execute. We did a good job of that and pulled together and finished strong.”
On giving advice to his younger teammates:
“I mean, that’s more of a thing where I’m going to lead by example. No need to say it. I feel like our leaders, our coaches, the leaders on this team, they do a great job of showing up every day and that kind of sets the presence of what we got to do about our business. When guys see me, I just want them to see a guy that is a light in a room, a guy that’s grateful to be able to play this game that so many people dream that they can get the opportunity to do. And I’m always putting myself back in that kid-like mindset of understanding how it felt playing in Pop Warner, dreaming and hoping that one day I’ll play on Sunday. So, to me, I’m just going to always let that show in my actions and hopefully today we look like we were always on point. So, it works. And it wasn’t just for me, it’s a credit to everybody.”
On his rushing touchdown late in the game:
“I had options to keep it or throw it, and then we set it up well because we kept trying to run in there and they were holding strong and the looks, the looks were just getting more and more premier. So I thought [Commanders offensive coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury] did a great job of timing up and [calling it]. When the option was there, the corner was kind of waiting. I didn’t know if he wanted to come at me or not. I saw [Commanders RB] Chris [Rodriguez Jr.] in the back of the end zone, so if he’d have run to me, I was going to pop to Chris like I did to [Commanders TE John Bates] and he ended up turning his back. So, I just kept it.”
On the team incorporating under center plays:
“Yeah, and then just the situation, especially when I dropped the snap and just trying to eliminate those mishaps and just play winning football and give us a chance to win. And I was able to do that today.”
On the play of Commanders WRs Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel:
“Oh man, I’m so grateful for those guys. They showed up all week, showed up on game day and they were rocking. For them to really go out there and make the plays that they did, I felt like it opened it up. It opened up the run game in the second half. They started clouding Terry a little bit more, which was good for us because it created some running lanes for [Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez] and [Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt]. And then we were a little bit more balanced at the end and then we were able to punch in some touchdowns and come away with a victory.”
On Commanders head coach Dan Quinn’s comments to him after the game:
“He just said congratulations. It was a brotherhood win and that’s really what he’d been preaching all week. Love playing for [Commanders head coach Dan Quinn], man. He sticks to the purpose. That’s a sign of a great leader and I know this team, this organization is going to do great things because they got the right man in the end.”
On the relationships within the Washington quarterback room:
“It’s a great support system, man. Everyone supports each other. Everyone has each other’s back, everyone shows love. And it was there the day I walked in here. I noticed it with [Commanders QB] Sam [Hartman], with [Commanders QB Jayden Daniels], with [Commanders QB] Marcus [Mariota], and then when [Commanders QB] Jeff [Driskel] came back, the bond was there. So, for me it was just really just coming in and being myself and just being an asset to the room in any way possible. And the guys, when they were in there, it was my job to support them in the best way I could and it was always open, which is huge because I’ve been around some places where guys might not be as open to you and everybody was open. And when I got the opportunity to play, [Commanders QB] Marcus [Mariota] supported me in every which way possible. [Commanders QB Jayden Daniels] supported me in every which way possible, when [Commanders QB] Jeff [Driskel] got here. [Commanders QB] Sam [Hartman], same way, [Commanders offensive coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury], [Commanders assistant head coach Brian Johnson], it’s a great room for quarterback development here and I think you could see that from different guys going there and learn how to manage the show.”
On working with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury:
“Awesome. I’ve never been around [Commanders offensive coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury] before. Have never played in this style of offense. It’s a very innovative offense that gets guys open. He knows how to get guys open. He’s always looking to attack the defense and I’ve enjoyed just playing with him – and also just how open he is to our opinions and things that we are comfortable and not comfortable with because my situation, I never really got to really play for Kliff in real games like [Commanders QB] Marcus [Mariota] and [Commanders QB Jayden Daniels] have. And for him to be open to me and respond to me to the things and how I see it and go out there and call it that way was a big adjustment for him to do that. And I think he responded well and Kliff’s a great coach, man, so I’m just glad to be here with him.”
On if there was a postgame embrace with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury or others:
“I mean, my mom, my wife, my two sons, and my brother were here. They were sitting right behind us. And, so, to have them come on the field, just experience that – being a dad, a lot of my kids miss these moments with me bouncing around. And so for them to be able to just experience, embrace the whole environment of what comes with this – I hope it puts an impression on them that we could do this out of Oakland, California, we could do this out of anywhere, but you have to do your part every day and show up for yourself and just show up for the people that you’re working with, and God does the impossible all the time and just keep your faith and keep doing. So, hopefully I learned a lot. I’m looking forward to having a conversation with [Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury] after this about it.”
On his reaction after scoring the fourth-quarter rushing touchdown:
“Man, you have to internalize a lot in my position and you have to stay the course and you have to be disciplined to do a lot of things and you have to kind of be borderline a little. I guess crazy is the word, but now I’ve used the word faith. You have to really be faithful and you have to really listen. And for me, I have to listen to the Spirit when it talks to me because when I came here in 2023 and I had two concussions, I thought it was over. I thought it was over and I prayed on it and I just got closer with God and he just told me, ‘Just keep going, man. Just keep going and don’t waiver.’ Take gratitude in the small victories, whether that be getting a rep, whether that be getting there and just handing the ball off. Those things mean something in this league. And, so, for me, I just focused on those things and I was able to get this opportunity today and I just wanted to just go out there and just show my gratitude and my style of play.”