Athlete, scholar, author, community activist, entrepreneur and Jewel’s dad… anyway you read it Johnny Rodgers is far more than just football.
As a player with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, Johnny Rodgers served as a punt return specialist, pass receiver and running back. Rodgers broke virtually every offensive team record during his tenure. He was twice named to the College Football All American Team, won the Walter Camp Award and the Heisman Trophy in 1972 for most outstanding player in college football.
In his three years with the Cornhuskers, the versatile Rodgers established an all-purpose NCAA yardage record of 5,586. College Football News has described him as “the greatest kick returner in college football history. Rodgers returned seven punts for touchdowns in his college career, a feat that Stood as the NCAA record for decades.
Honors recognize Johnny’s athletic ability, but he is also proud of degrees in broadcast journalism and advertising from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2005 he was named the University of Nebraska’s Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2006 Johnny authored his first book; “An Era of Greatness: Coach Bob Devaney’s Final Four Seasons in University of Nebraska Football (1969-1972),” a “must read” for all “Husker” fans. Johnny’s second book titled; “10 Minutes Of Insanity” is a story of Johnny’s first 25 years and an inspiration for all. In addition to starting Rodgers Literary Marketing, Inc., Johnny is the founder of the Johnny Rodgers Youth Foundation. A program aimed at helping and strengthening the family structure, while creating opportunities for youth through character, education and social development. He’s in demand as a public speaker and his inspirational talks encourage teamwork and persistence in reaching goals. Johnny regularly attends and supports events that support youth sports and leadership programs. He’s active in Dr. Tom Osborne’s Teammates Mentoring Program.
Johnny was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2000. The Sports Writers Association named Johnny the Most Valuable Player in Big 8 History. He’s a member of the Nebraska Football All Century Team and in 2000 he was named the Nebraska’s Cornhusker Player of the Century. In 2008 he was named to the Omaha Public School Hall of Fame, the Sports Illustrated Best Ever All-Time All-Star and the Orange Bowl All- Time team. CBS Sports named Rodgers number six in its list of Top 10 Players in College Football ever as a Wide Receiver. Currently through his youth foundation he has joined the fight to keep kids in school. At a time of surging dropout rates across the country Mr. Rodgers is committed to helping alleviate this awful fate of so many students today. In 2013 he will take it one step further when he combines the Return Specialist Award with trade-worthy students. This year, The Return Specialist Award is happy to announce a merging of efforts with the trade branch of Metropolitan Community College. The goal is to raise $100,000.00 to be used as scholarship funds for one hundred or more students to enter trade school at the college. These funds will provide for youth from the north Omaha community, where Johnny was born, raised and continues to reside.
In the fall of 2011, Joe was approached by Johnny Rodgers and asked to complete another unique project. His assignment was to create a new style trophy for a long overdue award. The award would bear the name of a quick strike break away runner and a position that had yet to be properly recognized… the return specialist. That day Johnny asked for uniqueness and that is exactly what Joe delivered. The Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers National College Football Return Specialist Award trophy was taken by Joe Putjenter from the images of one of the most memorable plays in college football history.
From a game that was dubbed “the game of the century” to a team that was voted the team of the century came a play that’s been called the return of eternity. To this day no play has ever withstood the test of time more so than the electrifying punt return by Johnny Rodgers in the 1971.
In a battle for number one in the nation the first score of the game came when Greg Pruitt hit and missed Johnny Rodgers, igniting a run into history. It is at the precise moment that Joe Putjenter stopped time. He froze the action of the recorded play just as Johnny Rodgers broke away on a run that brought the return game into vivid focus, forever etched in college football lore. His original sketches captured five characters in the still pictures of the play. “Too many for one trophy”, said Coach Reed. So he eliminated two of the five. Later, he was persuaded to drop one more, leaving only the figure of Johnny Rodgers as he escapes from one of his best friends, Greg Pruitt, on his way to a run that continues to this day.
The trophy conceived in the mind and created from scratch by Joe, captures all the greatness of the moment that refuses to die. One writer called it “the coolest award trophy ever” and its cool creator is Joe Putjenter.
