Getting Drilled In The Face With A Football Probably Wasn’t Part Of Taron Johnson’s NFL Combine Strategy

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Every football player who heads to the NFL Scouting Combine goes into it knowing every single thing they say and do has the potential to earn them (or cost them) millions of dollars once the draft rolls around.  Players are given plenty of opportunities to prove their value— like Shaquem Griffin, who managed to bang out 20 reps on the bench press despite having to use a prosthetic hand to do so— while fans of schadenfreude get to rely on dismal performances like the one from Orlando Brown to feel better about themselves.

On Monday, former Weber State cornerback Taron Johnson got a chance to impress scouts on a day devoted to showcasing the skills (and lack thereof) of the defensive backs who earned an invite to this year’s combine. Given the pressure that comes with performing in the spotlight, it’s only natural that some players forget some of the things they drilled into their minds while preparing for the showcase.

I assume “don’t get hit in the face with a football” was at the very least an implicit part of Johnson’s strategy for making it through The Gauntlet drill, but as you can see, things don’t always go according to plan.

Here’s that slo-mo version your body is probably craving right now (accompanied by some absolutely fantastic reactions from the scouts in the background).

His face and ego might both be bruised, but it seems like Johnson (who is currently projected to go as high as the fourth round on some draft boards) is trying to look on the bright side of things.

He might have lost some money, but at least he got a GIF.

Connor Toole avatar and headshot for BroBible
Connor Toole is the Deputy Editor at BroBible. He is a New England native who went to Boston College and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. Frequently described as "freakishly tall," he once used his 6'10" frame to sneak in the NBA Draft and convince people he was a member of the Utah Jazz.