Tom Brady was a sixth-round draft pick who worked his way up to becoming the greatest of all-time. With a resume like that, one could say Brady is the most improved player in NFL history.
But have you considered Jakob Johnson?
One of the more amusing exchanges between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman Thursday happened in the third quarter, when the camera focused on the Patriots’ fullback. Aikman went on to recall one of his recent conversations with Belichick, in which Johnson was a major topic.
It was a real whopper.
“In talking with Bill Belichick, he said [Johnson] is the most improved player that he’s ever coached outside of possibly Stephen Neal — the former wrestler who had a great career as an offensive lineman,” Aikman said.
We know Belichick loves scrappy and unorthodox players like Johnson (and Neal) — the man waxes poetic about long-snappers and drafted a pro rugby player. The Patriots signed Johnson in 2019, out of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Johnson was released during the final round of cuts that camp, only to clear waivers and return to New England’s practice squad. He wound up playing four games in 2019.
Since then, Johnson has developed into one of the few everyday fullbacks in the NFL. It’s a nice story, and one that Belichick probably can’t resist. He's praised Johnson's "remarkable" rise before.
But really? Most improved player? Pro Football Focus ranks Johnson as the 7th-best fullback in the NFL … out of 12.
Buck pushed back against his longtime partner. “Brady was pretty good,” he said.
Aikman doubled down.
“I’m not saying there [weren’t] a lot of great players,” he said. “But as far as the most improved player from where they began, and what they went on and did, Jakob Johnson just has carved out a nice little niche in this offense.”
Now that’s more reasonable. Johnson has carved out a “nice little niche” in the Patriots’ offense. But Aikman says Belichick told him Johnson was the most improved player he’s ever coached.
Buck didn’t let him forget when highlighting Johnson’s block on a Rhamondre Stephenson run.
“Got a good block from Johnson, the most improved player outside of Tom Brady that Bill Belichick has ever coached,” Buck said.
When Aikman grumbled, Buck went in for his closing argument.
“You can’t go from the third sixth-round pick to a seven-time super bowl champion quarterback and not be the most improved guy,” Buck said.
“You go argue that with Bill Belichick,” Aikman protested.
Thankfully, Aikman will have many more years to wax poetic with Belichick about Jakob Johnson. During the broadcast, Aikman predicted Belichick will coach Mac Jones for the next 18 years, until he's 87.
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