Q&A: Coach Charles Adams on ex-player Tyler Johnson playing in Super Bowl

Bring up Tyler Johnson’s name and Charles Adams III, the football coach at Minneapolis North high school, doesn’t stop smiling. Adams coached Johnson, then a quarterback and defensive back, until he went off to be a Gopher.

We caught up with Adams III to hear his happiness for Johnson getting to play in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Johnson was a 5th round draft pick of Tampa’s and has contributed to the Bucs’ success this year.

***Click the video box above to watch our conversation with Adams III, and to see Johnson in action***

Johnson has made a key third down catch in each of the last two games, and drew a game-clinching penalty in the NFC Championship Game win at Green Bay. Adams III noted that Johnson’s story is even more special since he helped beat the bitter rival Packers.

Johnson’s best regular season game came in Week 5 against the Bears. He set personal-highs for snaps (56), targets (six), receptions (four) and yards (61). He also scored in each of the next two games, forming a nice bond with Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, a future Hall of Famer. His snaps fluctuated late in the season when Tampa signed veteran Antonio Brown. But with Brown sidelined due to an injury in the Green Bay game, Johnson got more snaps and ran with them.

He now gets to play on Sunday for a Super Bowl title in his home stadium against Kansas City, the defending champs. The entire northside of Minneapolis will be rooting on Johnson and the Bucs.