Kerryon Johnson, who played four seasons in the NFL and was drafted by Detroit in the second round of the 2018 draft, has attributed the early end of his career to former Lions head coach Matt Patricia. Johnson suffered from knee issues in his first two seasons, and after being waived by the Lions' new regime in 2021, he was out of the NFL altogether last season.
When asked on social media why he is not currently playing football, Johnson pointed the finger directly at Patricia, stating, "Because playing for a military general left me down 2 knees and a neck." This statement is consistent with other players like Darius Slay and Quandre Diggs, who have spoken out about their negative experiences with Patricia and the "Patriot Way" mentality that was adopted in Detroit.
Despite being only 25 years old, Johnson's career was cut short due to whatever actions Patricia took during his time as head coach. It remains to be seen if any other players will come forward with similar experiences, but it's clear that Johnson believes Patricia played a significant role in ending his time in the NFL.
