There are moments in football that transcend wins and losses. Moments bigger than highlight reels and stat sheets. Dylan Raiola passed his trial run with flying colors this past season, but now it’s time to take the next step. Nebraska Cornhuskers’ program has been through its share of battles. Matt Rhule has advised his QB1 about rebuilding the squad around him with one step at a time. But right now, the whole Nebraska squad builds around their Pinstripe Bowl hero and key RB. The one that silently carried a weight far heavier than any blitzing linebacker or fourth-quarter deficit.

Rahmir Johnson had his moment under the Bronx lights. Standing near the Pinstripe Bowl trophy, with the MVP in his hand. The Nebraska running back flashed a smile that masked the storm he had been weathering for months. “Perfect ending,” he called it after the win over Boston College. A championship in his backyard, just minutes from where he grew up. But as the cameras turned away and the celebration faded, Johnson shared a different kind of victory.

The battle he had fought off the field, the grief that had followed him through a season of challenges, was one he finally acknowledged. His mother, Angela—his greatest supporter—passed away this fall. He shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, and teammates like star CB Amare Sanders and Dylan Raiola came in for full support.

Johnson poured out the words he had been holding inside: “I still really didn’t have a chance to really grieve your absence… But there’s one thing I do know… We going to be alright. So rest easy Ma.” It didn’t take long for his teammates to rally around him. Nations 63 ranked CB Sanders reposted Johnson’s tribute with a heartfelt message of his own: “Dollaz! Keep smiling for Ma Dukes. You blessed boy… best believe she looking down on you smiling.” Dylan Raiola, the five-star quarterback expected to lead Nebraska into a new era, quietly showed his support too. Left a simple like on Rahmir’s aka “rara” post, as his mom would call him.

Johnson’s journey at Nebraska had already been one of resilience. Six years in Lincoln, navigating injuries, depth chart battles, and the ever-evolving landscape of college football. When Angela passed away in the fall, Johnson made the painful trip home during the Huskers’ November bye week, attending the funeral before slipping back into the team like nothing had happened.

He didn’t want the attention. He didn’t want the distraction. “I don’t want it to be, like, a big distraction,” he had told Matt Rhule. But when Nebraska needed him most, in the final game of his college career, he delivered. Sixty rushing yards. One last touchdown. The final punch on a power play Rhule calls “30 Hammer,” a call he’s trusted since his days at Temple.

That moment—eleven yards through a collapsing defense, a touchdown that sealed Nebraska’s first bowl win since 2015—wasn’t just a stat line. It was a tribute. A final gift for the woman who had cheered him on since the very beginning.

Rahmir Johnson: Matt Rhule’s reminder of what matters

Sure, Dylan Raiola could be argued as the next Mahomes, but this is way bigger than that. Matt Rhule knew he was about to get emotional. He even warned the reporters before diving into a story he had kept close to his chest all season. “Rahmir has never allowed anyone to really know what happened to him this year,” Rhule said, his voice heavy with emotion. Then he let the world in on the secret.

Johnson lost his mother this year. Through unimaginable grief, he never made excuses, never asked for sympathy—he just kept showing up for his team. “He loved his mother,” Rhule said. “He lost his mother. He cares about this team. I think this is a fitting end for him.”

After a quiet start in 2019, Johnson’s career saw limited action in 2020, a breakthrough in 2021 cut short by a concussion, and a diminished role in 2022. Then came a brutal 2023, where a shoulder injury ended his season and personal tragedy struck with the loss of his mother. Still, Johnson never wavered.

Despite fierce competition at running back, he clawed his way back, finishing his final season with 261 rushing yards, 179 receiving yards, and two touchdowns—saving his best for last. After winning the MVP trophy, Coach Rhule joked he should “ride the subway home in full uniform, pads and all.”

But it was never just about the award. It was about the heart. Loyalty. Perseverance. In an era of NIL-driven transfers, Johnson stood firm. “I love this program. I’m dedicated to this place,” he said. And for Rhule, that’s exactly why he still coaches this game.