When Quentin Johnston was selected by the Chargers in the first round of April’s draft, his first thought wasn’t about a new car or house that he might be able to buy with his rookie contract, but rather the prospect that his mother might be able to retire with his help.
He told his mother on draft night that she could stop working and retire, and after officially inking his rookie deal last Friday, he seems set to follow through on that commitment.
In speaking to the media after practice at rookie minicamp, he talked about what it means to him to be able to make such a monumental change in the lives of his family.
It means the world to me. I’m a big family person. Obviously, growing up, I wouldn’t be in this position I am today if it wasn’t for both of my parents and the sacrifices that they made, getting me to and from different games, different practices, different events when they had stuff planned already. I would’ve done the same thing for my dad, but my dad was already retired, so I just gave him a pat on the back right there. To give back to them and see the look on their faces, it’s everything.
Clearly, Johnston is motivated by far more than money in his first year with the Chargers, and if his comments are any indication, he is well on his way to paying back all of the help that got him into the NFL.
