This month began with the CFL’s cutdown deadline — a reminder of the precarious nature of professional football.
A career can end in an instant, with one call to the head coach’s office and the solemn conversation that follows. Most players encounter that reality within five years.
A notable exception is Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle Micah Johnson, who remains a formidable presence in 11th CFL season.
“I’m just thankful,” he says. “I love the game.
“I’ve made a lot of sacrifices over the years and continue to work. You’re just happy the work continues to pay off and that your value isn’t just as a vet, but that your play is counted on and valued.
“For me, it’s extra motivation. I’m not ready to hang ’em up yet, so I’m excited that the opportunity is here.”
Johnson’s longevity is such that a former teammate is once again his coach.
When Johnson debuted in the CFL with Calgary in 2013, he played alongside Corey Mace — by then a well-established tackle — on the Stampeders’ defensive line.
First impressions?
“He was just telling me what the hell to do,” Johnson, who turns 36 on June 22, recalls with a smile.
“He knew it all, so it was just me asking him what to do before every play.”
Mace played for the Stampeders from 2010 to 2014 before becoming the team’s defensive line coach.
“In ’14, his back was messed up,” Johnson says. “I watched him go through that as a player and then — bam! — the next year he’s my D-line coach. You saw how well he did with the room. You knew it was a natural fit.
“Even before, when he was still playing, he was running 8:30 meetings. He could run the whole defensive line meeting without the D-line coach being there.”
With Mace coaching the Stampeders’ defensive line, Johnson was named a CFL All-Star in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Calgary capped the latter season by winning a Grey Cup championship.
After the 2021 campaign, Mace was hired by the Toronto Argonauts as their defensive co-ordinator. He helped Toronto win a Grey Cup in 2022 and 16 regular-season games (tying a league record) in 2023.
On Nov. 30, Mace’s ascent continued when he was named the Roughriders’ head coach and defensive co-ordinator.
“Everybody saw the success that he had in Toronto and the success he had in Calgary,” Johnson says. “It’s just a thing where everybody’s trying to learn from him because we want the same success.”
Coming off an undefeated pre-season, the 2024
Roughriders are preparing for Saturday’s regular-season opener against the host Edmonton Elks (2 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
“The way our offensive line has come together really excites me,” says Johnson, a five-time divisional All-Star. “I like their togetherness and their physicality as a group.
“Also, with the defensive line, the trenches just excite me because I know what we’ve got on both sides of the ball. From the secondary to the receivers to the run game, it’s the whole thing.
“The way Mace is leading it, it’s a notable difference. I feel like the staff is doing an amazing job.”
That was Johnson’s take from the outset of training camp — a springtime ritual that is a necessary evil for accomplished CFLers such as Johnson.
“As long as I’ve been doing it, that’s the worst part of it at this point,” he says with a laugh.
“It’s the love for these moments that pushes me through it. It’s about getting ready for the games.
“The anticipation for this one is huge. I’m very excited to be a part of it.”
