There’s been a lot of chatter buzzing around Ohio State, and no, it ain’t about another Ryan Day gimmick or some 5-star recruit. It’s about an OG—the defensive line kingpin, Larry Johnson. Now, rumors have been flying like crazy, especially after Ryan Day made the shocking move to bring in Matt Patricia after Jim Knowles dipped to Happy Valley for a cool $3.1 million bag. People started whispering, ‘Is Larry Johnson out the door?’ Well, we are about to clear the air for you, but hold up. This story’s got layers.

So, here’s the tea. On February 17th, Ohio State insider Kirk Barton went live with Ohio State insider on his Buckeye Scoop podcast and dropped some major knowledge on the whole Larry Johnson retirement buzz. The word on the street: you probably heard about the meeting between Larry Johnson and Ryan Day after the Patricia hire. Yeah, people went wild thinking this was the end of Larry’s legendary run with OSU. But—plot twist—it was just a regular meeting. That’s right, nothing to see here.

According to an Ohio State insider, Day met with all the defensive coaches—including Johnson—to discuss how Patricia, with his pro experience and Super Bowl rings, would mesh with the defensive scheme. This wasn’t some ’emergency meeting’ to discuss Larry’s retirement plans. It was just another day at the office.

Ohio State insider laid it out straight when Barton asked about it: “Well, it’s funny because I got a lot of texts this weekend from people that were like, ‘Oh, what’s going on with L?’ I’m like, ‘What are you guys talking about?’ And it was apparently some other website or some other podcast or somebody put out something on Larry Johnson and Ryan Day. So let me just explain to you guys what has gone on and what happened. So the reports are, Ryan Day met with Larry Johnson about the Matt Patricia hire and while that is factually correct, Ryan Day met with all the assistant coaches, especially on the defensive side, regarding the impact and implications of bringing in Matt Patricia from the outside to coach the OSU defense… it’s not exactly breaking news that Ryan Day had a meeting with Larry Johnson about this.”

You gotta love how the Ohio State insider kept it real, squashing any drama. Larry’s been around the block forever. At 73 years old, he’s a veteran coach who can literally say, ‘been there, done that.’ Look, you can’t just throw him into a tizzy over every little change. He’s been running the defensive line for OSU since 2014, and he’s earned his place. But that doesn’t mean he’s gonna start shaking things up over every new hire. “Larry’s a crusty old bird,” Insider jokes, “So Larry is naturally going to be resistant to anybody. It didn’t matter who you hired, you could’ve brought in Nick Saban, you could’ve brought in Dick LeBeau, you could’ve brought in the ghost of Buddy Ryan, it doesn’t matter. Larry Johnson likes to do things a certain way.”

So, for all the drama queens out there thinking Larry’s gonna retire because of Patricia’s hiring? Chill. It’s a non-story. Johnson’s in his prime in terms of coaching. The man’s just 73 year young, if we keep it real. He’s still raking in a fat paycheck, rumored to be around a million a year. You think he’s walking away from that? Nah, he’s too invested in his players and the grind. Plus, he’s got nothing but football to focus on right now. The man’s kids are grown, and he’s got nothing holding him back from coaching his heart out. Retirement? Not today, fam.

Larry Johnson’s defensive legacy and working with Matt Patricia

Larry Johnson’s been a staple at Ohio State, turning defensive linemen into future NFL stars year after year. Just look at what he did in 2024—Ohio State’s defense was straight-up nasty, with J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer leading the charge. Those 2 are about to leave a serious mark in the NFL, and they might not have gotten to that point without Larry’s expert guidance. In fact, OSU posted 53 sacks in their 2024 Natty run, and both Tuimoloau and Sawyer got double-digit sacks. Larry’s legacy speaks for itself.

But things are changing. With a new defensive coordinator coming in and the talk of possibly switching to a 3-4 defense, Larry’s role might shift. How does a 73-year-old coach, who’s spent decades coaching a 4-3 front, adjust to these changes? That’s a big question, and the answer might not be clear until the season kicks off.

The tension with former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles shows there’s always been a bit of friction in how Johnson wants to run things versus the broader coaching strategy. Matt Patricia’s arc only adds another layer of uncertainty.

But let’s be real—Larry Johnson’s been coaching for what feels like forever. He doesn’t sweat change. He adapts. As Ohio State points out, Larry’s not the type to throw a fit when things change. You could’ve brought in Nick Saban, or even the ghost of Buddy Ryan, and Larry would’ve just nodded his head and gotten to work. That’s the aura of Larry. He ain’t gonna throw a tantrum over a new hire.

So, where does this leave us? Is Larry Johnson retiring anytime soon? Short answer: NO. The guy’s still got the fire. With a paycheck that lets him live stress-free, a squad full of talent, and a passion for the game, Larry Johnson’s sticking around. The whispers of retirement are just that—whispers. As for Matt Patricia’s hire? Larry’s not exactly throwing a parade, but he’s not throwing a fit either. He’ll roll with it, like he always does. It’s all part of the process, and OSU’s defensive line isn’t going anywhere. So relax, Buckeye fans—Larry Johnson’s still here, and he’s still ready to work.