Former UT and NFL Linebacker Derrick Johnson Publishes Children’s Book to Empower Kids Through Literacy
Former football player for the Texas Longhorns and Kansas City Chiefs, co-wrote “Super DJ Saves Field Day” with his wife to help kids find their own “superpowers”
Growing up, Derrick Johnson’s mom, who was a school teacher, taught him that education is most important, regardless of what he wanted to do in life.
Now, the former University of Texas at Austin football player and Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl linebacker has created a platform to teach other children the same lesson.
On Aug. 7, Johnson and his wife Brittni released their first children’s book, “Super DJ Saves Field Day.” The uplifting story focuses on a dad-turned-superhero (DJ), who helps kids find their own “superpowers” and understand the importance of hard work, character and doing your best in the face of challenges and bullies during a school field day.
“Super DJ is there to encourage kids, be their cheerleader and show them that someone is in their corner,” Johnson says. “When adversity hits, we want them to learn how to build confidence and bounce back. If you try your best, you’ll be your best. These are things I learned through football and throughout my life.”
Before he launched his book, Johnson was sharing the importance of literacy through his foundation, Defend The Dream, which he started in 2012. The foundation has provided library makeovers to 15 Title 1 schools in Kansas City, one in his hometown of Waco and six in Austin, including at Oak Springs, Langford and Pickle Elementary School. They stock the newly upgraded libraries, dubbed DJ’s Discovery Dens, with thousands of donated books curated for each student population, and invest $60,000 into each space to make it more comfortable and imaginative for the children.
“We want to give kids the proper resources so they can reach their full potential through literacy,” Johnson says. “Especially inner-city kids, low-income areas and Title 1 elementary schools, if they don’t have the proper reading skills or aren’t reading on grade level, there’s a chance that they won’t possibly finish high school after they leave elementary school.”
After Johnson retired from his successful 13-year career in the NFL, he moved to Austin and became fully invested in giving back to the community. At each of his DJ Discovery Den openings, he reads books to students, and this sparked the idea to create his own story that he can share with kids at future ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
Johnson and Brittni worked side-by-side, like they do at the foundation, to create “Super DJ Saves Field Day,” and they even got some inspiration from their six children.
“We wanted to depict all colors, shapes and sizes to show diversity in the book, so the kids we work with could be able to see themselves in this book,” Brittni says. “We also wanted to encourage young readers to see that reading is fun.”
The third-grade level book ($16) is available now through the publisher, Black Rose Writing, along with national retailers, such as Amazon, Target and Barnes & Noble, and at independent bookstores, like Austin’s Black Pearl Books. On Aug. 16, Johnson will be hosting a special book signing at the University of Texas Co-op to meet fans and share his mission to empower kids through literacy.
The couple’s next goal is to add “Super DJ Saves Field Day” to all of the foundation’s Discovery Dens. “The more exposure the book gets, the more exposure the foundation gets,” Brittni says.