Path To The Draft: Paris Johnson Jr.

Experience NFL Draft Day 2023 on the ground with the no. 6 overall pick, Paris Johnson Jr.

It’s the night before the 2023 NFL Draft, and Paris Johnson Jr. stands on the steps of the WWI Museum. Though the moment is silent, the electricity in the air is palpable. A bugle plays taps, and the unmistakable melody rings out into the night sky over Kansas City, the site of the 2023 NFL Draft. With a Duke football in one hand, Paris approaches the podium and flips a switch and the WWI Memorial Liberty Tower is illuminated with vibrant images of poppies‒a symbol of soldiers’ sacrifice. It’s an honor to be asked to light the WWI Memorial Liberty Tower, and the gravity of the task is not lost on Paris.

Paris says his mother always instilled in him a deep appreciation and respect for veterans. But after volunteering with the Paralympics his sophomore year, he felt called to take action. He founded the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation to support military veterans, their families and other disadvantaged student-athletes by helping them gain access to resources and experiences that enable them to move forward.

“I want what I do off the field to be just as big as what I do on the field,” he says.

And what he does on the field is huge. Paris played in 31 games with Ohio State during his three seasons with the program between 2020-22, and he started 26 consecutive games in 2021 and 2022. His on-field performance earned him a number of accolades, including unanimous first-team All-American.

Given his undeniably high level of performance, one might assume Paris is singularly focused on football. But you know what they say about assumptions. Founding the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation is just one of the many notable achievements that Paris has racked up in his 21 years. He also earned a journalism degree from the Ohio State University in under three years. He speaks Mandarin. He’s a history buff. And he is a man of faith. One thing is for sure: no matter the endeavor, Paris is fueled by a relentless pursuit of excellence.

To get game-ready, Paris has a ritual that gets him in a competitive frame of mind.

“On the field before every big game, I have a 20-minute prayer between me and God, talking out loud. Asking him to give me the mentality to dominate my opponents to glorify him. So when I’m out on the field, I am playing with the strength of God. That’s why I play the way I do. I play fast, I play violent, and I’m a finisher.”

On the eve of the most important day of his career, the former Ohio State tackle and projected first-round draft pick said he was taking everything in and trying to stay present. “Because if I don’t, that moment is gone, and I’m never going to get it back.” Safe to say, the moments that followed were worth being present for. Paris Johnson Jr. was drafted 6th overall by the Arizona Cardinals as the crowd went wild.

Paris says he knew the Cardinals were the right fit when the enthusiasm he expressed about joining the team was completely reciprocated on their end. But there’s another reason being drafted by the Cardinals is significant to Paris. In 1999, his father, Paris Johnson Sr., was drafted in the fifth round by the Arizona Cardinals. His father never took the field in an NFL game, and Paris is eager to complete the full-circle moment by accomplishing what his dad never could.

Playing in the NFL was Paris’s first dream, and one he’s had since he started playing football at the age of five. “This process has been everything I imagined,” says Paris, reflecting on the Draft. “It’s been fun to meet a lot of teams, personnel and coaches. And to just take it all in and know that now it’s my time to be a part of it.”

This new chapter for Paris is exciting for many reasons. For one thing, he is looking forward to providing for his mom. “As a kid, it was just me, my sister and my mom. And my mom didn’t have anything,” said Paris in his post-Draft press conference. “But she worked, and that put us in a position to be here. It was for this.”

“Obviously, playing in the NFL and representing Wilson is going to be a bigger platform to help more people,” said Paris. “This has always been my covenant with God. As long as he allows me to continue to play, I’m going to continue to use the platform to help more people. Because people are always going to remember how you impacted their life.”

It’s rare to find someone who can both strike fear into the hearts of their opponents and inspire hope in the hearts of those in need. But that is Paris Johnson Jr. to a T; a dominant force on the field and a force for good everywhere else.

And we can’t wait to watch his story unfold.

To keep up with Paris, make sure to follow him on IG@Parisjohnsonjr.