Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson has had an up-and-down career the past two seasons, but he was definitely on a high Monday night. That’s because he decided before the game to write the names of the Sandy Hook shooting victims on his shoes as a tribute. And then ripped of an amazing, 94-yard touchdown run during the game’s second quarter against the Jets.
You can see the tribute in the images below:
And here’s how it looked (note, there is no sound — you can see a version with sound here):
Making the tribute even more fitting: It was the longest run in franchise history, according to The Tennessean.
Johnson told the paper that putting the names on his shoes was “just something to try to give back and show tribute to those families and how much they hurt.”
“It just shows you how fortunate it is for us to come out here and play on Sunday and Monday,” he added, saying he was “thinking about those kids all week.”
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Sgt_Rock
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:30pmOn the wings of Angels…well done C.J.
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jadams1214
Dec. 18, 2012 at 5:59pmThis and all the other stuff professional sports and athletes are doing is nothing but a promotional ploy to make people think they really care. I would like to know if they really care so much about the children why no tribute to the hundreds of other children who have been killed this year in America. How do they decide which ones are worthy of tributes and flying flags at half staff. This is just a ploy to get more twitter followers and t-shirt sales. So sad!
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noproblems
Dec. 18, 2012 at 4:56pmvery nice indeed. if he would have remembered to point up to heaven he would be a national hero.
also Cruz from the giants did something similar.
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FlagWavingPatriot
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:49pmI saw the shoes on the pre-game show last night. I was shocked NBC actually showed the side with the cross.
Someone probably got fired over that.
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Winedude
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:41pmTo paraphrase Forrest Gump, stupid is as stupid says. You win a stupid award…congratulations.
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ALISSTER
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:41pmI like it…Good stuff. Not political or anything ignorant. Just good.
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The_Jerk
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:57amI understand the reflex, but who turns on sports to see political messaging. The NFL should, could, issue a statement, but this way, there is a hint of seeking attention for personal gain at play, by the players. Who can out-do who, in the compassion game, becomes the game.
The pink-thing is also unnerving. Is there nowhere where messaging is left out?
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trustintheconstitution
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:38pmI definitely understand your point, however this is as if saying because he is an athlete(celebrity) he cannot have an opinion or get his message out. This is his platform to use and he chose to use it, much like this is a platform you and i could use, personally going to school with CJ and knowing him, he did not do this for attention to outdo another player
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The_Jerk
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:48pmTrust: “… however this is as if saying because he is an athlete(celebrity) he cannot have an opinion or get his message out.”
Not true. If you work for a corporation, you can not personally message at your place of employment. And, you, nor I, do not know the motivation of the player. But, what is absolutely true, is that this form of messaging ‘can’ be used for personal aggrandizement. It has no place in sports.
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PlowMan
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:51pmYou are truly a JERK!! Someone trying to do something nice and you have this to say. What a jerk!!
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The_Jerk
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:56pmPlowMan, time and place. How do you know one’s intentions? I am no more the judge than you, but, one thing is absolutely true, he did make himself standout. It’s the me syndrome of sports.
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bethy85
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:34pmSince when is paying your respects and showing tribute to 26 slain victims “political messaging”? What politics are directly involved with writing the names of the victims on your shoes and “RIP SHES” (Rest In Peace, Sandy Hook Elementary School or Students)? His shoes said nothing about gun control or anything. He merely wrote their names. What he did should be smiled upon, not condemned. How many of you out there paid any tribute, paid your respects, wore Green & White on Monday or did ANYTHING but blast off your mouths for or against gun control or the celebrities or politicians who paid tribute? Huh? Get off your high horse.
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The_Jerk
Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:20pmBethy85, everything in sports has become about the individual.Started with Ali, through Neon Dion, to Owens and more. It’s a sports syndrome that was once shunned. If the NFL came up with a way of expressing itself, less of a problem. Sports is not about me. It’s about us and we.
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tcseacliff
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:40amvictor cruz has a tribute to a little boy in sandy hook on his shoes. he was the boys favorite player.
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FalseFactBob
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:37amFunfact: Chris Johnson has Tourette’s and he still gives interviews ticks and all. I always root for him even if he is playing against the Buccanners
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biohazard23
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:49amThe Bucs have been so bad it’s almost difficult to NOT root against them…
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The-Monk
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:06pmHi Biohazard23,
The Glazer’s and the Buc’s should have been run out of town about 12 years ago for their 1/2 penny sales tax debacle.
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USPATRIOT101
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:29pmI remember sitting in the stands of the old sombraro as painful as that was. Old days are haunting me again. I voted against that tax. Politicians have never met a tax they didn’t flat out abuse.
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biohazard23
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:43pmHey, Monk, how about we just let the Glazers move to merry ol’ England since they care about Man U so much more than their first team, the Bucs, anyway?
@USPat, the only time I was in the old sombrero was for a U2 concert way back when. And this girl didn’t vote for any stinkin’ tax, either. I kinda wish they would bring back Tony Dungy but after the way they treated him….
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natebub
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:31amJ.J. Watt from the Texans did a similar thing,,,,,,,,he got 2 sacks and will probably be defensive player of the year,,,,,,,,wheres his story???,,,,,,just kidding good story!
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:24amI knew immediately when the headline said ” makes an amazing play “, it was NOT a Chicago Bear. Another year, another let down.
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The_Jerk
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:31amHey, don’t cry on my Steeler fan shoulder.
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Mike Opelka
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:50amDear Armed… as a lifelong Bears fan (from playing at Wrigley to (briefly at) Northwestern to Soldier Field, to Memorial Stadium (at ISU in Champaign), and back home to Soldier Field) I feel your pain. But for a few badly timed injuries, we’d be sitting atop the division, looking down on those pesky Packers. It least I’m not a Cubs fan.
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The_Jerk
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:00pmMike Opelka, many teams can whine the same story about injuries, starting with the Steelers. It is what it is, not what it could have been.
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:36pmYeah Mike, We have had our share of injuries like many Teams this year. And just like a Sewer smells and spews it’s foulness with every breath, the JERK(off) as usual does the same. I’m outa this smelly situation. Adios.
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The_Jerk
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:52pmArmedAndReallyPissed, you can not escape the smelly situation. You are the smelly situation. “Pig-Pen,” from Peanuts.
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Carlinpa
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:17amThat was amazing! Great guy for honoring the victims..
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Landon410
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:13ammaybe the NFL should do a tribute to the victims by just getting rid of the Jets, they suck
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:44amThey were going to do a Tribute by putting a Professional Football Team in Iowa, but then they realized Chicago would want one too.
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