In Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs lost both defensive end Mike DeVito and inside linebacker Derrick Johnson to season-ending Achilles injuries. It was a brutal blow not only to the team, but to the men with grueling rehabilitation ahead of them. For many, an Achilles injury is the end of a career.
Yet, together, Johnson and DeVito persevered. The duo made full recoveries and came back for the start of minicamps. Those triumphs were followed by getting through training camp and the first preseason game without any problems. On Wednesday, Johnson celebrated those achievements and what is to come with his friend in this Instagram post.
"Perfect pic. Me and my guy Mike Devito got hurt last year during the first game with the same injury which put us out for the season. We rehabbed together day in and day out. He is a man of great faith and determination. Sometimes you don’t understand Gods plan and the way he sets things up. Me and this guy couldn’t wait to get back on the field to dominate again. Our motto was “Stronger Together” and Now we get to live that out on the field one more time. #easilymotivated"
This is awesome. DeVito talked so many times about the thought of retirement creeping into his head, only to have Johnson pushing him along the path to recovery. DeVito took a pay cut to stay with the Chiefs, leaving $2.5 million on the table in the last year of his contract.
Both are in free-agent seasons, so there is plenty to prove. With DeVito (30 years old) and Johnson (32 years old) trying to show their continued worth, having each other to rely on is a terrific thing.