It was late July 2025 when the tweet—or X post, if we’re being formal—dropped like a localized bomb on the Plains. Kerryon Johnson, a man who literally bled for the orange and blue, was asked a simple enough question: Are you proud to be an Auburn Tiger?
His answer? "Eh."
Two letters. One syllable. A massive amount of confusion for a fanbase that still watches his 2017 highlights to feel something. You remember that year. He was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He dragged a hobbled body through the Iron Bowl to beat Alabama. He was, by all accounts, the heartbeat of the program. So, why the cold shoulder now?
The Social Media Firestorm and the "Personal Reasons"
Social media isn't great for nuance. When Johnson posted that "Eh," the reaction was instant and, frankly, pretty ugly. Some fans felt betrayed. They pointed to the jerseys they still own or the way they defended his NFL career when injuries started to take a toll.
Johnson didn't back down. He actually leaned into the chaos. He noted there were "couple personal reasons" for his lack of enthusiasm. Naturally, people started guessing. Was it Gus Malzahn? Was it the current administration?
Interestingly, he shut down the coaching rumors fast. He explicitly said it had nothing to do with the guys he actually played for, noting that he still sees his old coaches every year. That leaves a lot of room for speculation about the university itself or the "culture" behind the scenes that fans never see.
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A Career Defined by Workload
If you want to understand kerryon johnson auburn football opinion shifts, you have to look at his usage rate. In 2017, Johnson was a workhorse in the most literal sense. He averaged 27 touches a game over his final ten appearances. That is a brutal, punishing schedule for a human body.
- The 2017 Toll: 285 carries, 1,391 yards, 18 touchdowns.
- The Injuries: Hamstring issues, shoulder problems, and those infamous ribs.
- The NFL Fallout: Drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round, but out of the league by 2021.
Some observers, including fans on various message boards, have wondered if there’s a lingering resentment about how much was asked of him. Did the heavy lifting at Auburn shorten his professional earning window? He hasn't said that explicitly, but when you're 27 and your NFL career is in the rearview mirror, you might look back at those 30-carry games against Georgia and Alabama with a different lens.
Coaching the Next Generation
While his relationship with his alma mater seems complicated, his love for the game isn't. Johnson is currently the running backs coach at East Tennessee State (ETSU), following a stint at North Alabama.
It’s a fascinating pivot. He once told reporters he never imagined himself in coaching. Yet, here he is, teaching 19-year-olds how to navigate the same holes he used to burst through. This career move shows he still values the players and the craft, even if he isn't interested in being the "rah-rah" alumni ambassador the Auburn marketing department might want him to be.
What He Thinks of the Current State of Auburn
Despite the "Eh" heard 'round the world, Johnson hasn't completely tuned out the Tigers. In a late 2024 appearance on the Yellowhammer Sports Podcast, he shared some thoughts on the Hugh Freeze era.
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He's been vocal about the fact that Auburn needs to "regain its footing." He’s a realist. He knows the SEC has changed. The NIL landscape and the transfer portal have turned the sport into something he barely recognizes from his 2015-2017 run. He’s mentioned that the 2017 team would have easily made a 12-team playoff—and honestly, he’s right. That team beat two number-one ranked teams in three weeks.
The Human Side of the Legend
We often treat college athletes like gladiators. We expect them to love the school forever because they wore the colors. But Kerryon Johnson’s stance reminds us that these are employees—or at least, they were treated like them before the paychecks became legal.
He’s been incredibly honest about his physical limitations post-Auburn. There was a famous Reddit thread where he joked about not being able to learn anything from D'Andre Swift because "the way Swift's knees bend and hips work, I can't do any of that." It's funny, sure, but it's also a sobering reminder of the physical cost of the game.
Why the Fanbase is Torn
The Auburn family is... intense. There’s no other way to put it.
- The Traditionalists: These fans think the "Eh" is a slap in the face to a school that gave him a platform and an education.
- The Realists: They see a guy who gave his literal health to a program and owes them nothing more.
- The Speculators: They’re convinced there’s a secret "Booster vs. Player" story that hasn't come out yet.
Honestly, it’s probably a mix of all three. Johnson has always been a straight shooter. He was the "best Twitter game at Auburn" for a reason. He doesn't do the corporate-speak that most former players use to keep their options open for a job in the athletic department.
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Moving Past the "Eh"
So, where does this leave us? Is Kerryon Johnson "canceled" at Auburn? Hard to imagine. You can't cancel a guy who did what he did in the 2017 Iron Bowl.
His opinion on Auburn football isn't a rejection of the fans or the memories; it feels more like a rejection of the obligation to perform loyalty. He’s a coach now. He’s a father. He’s a guy who knows exactly what it costs to be a star in the SEC.
If he wants to feel "Eh" about the institution while still loving the people he played with, that’s his right. It makes him more human, not less of a legend.
Actionable Insights for the Auburn Faithful
If you're a fan trying to make sense of this, here is how to handle the "Kerryon Opinion" era:
- Separate the school from the player. You can love Auburn University and still respect a player's right to have a complicated relationship with it.
- Appreciate the honesty. Most former stars give "canned" answers. Johnson is giving you the truth of his experience.
- Watch his coaching career. If you want to support him, follow what he's doing at ETSU. That's where his heart is now.
- Stop the social media attacks. Getting into an argument with a former SEC Player of the Year on X isn't going to make him love the school more.
Kerryon Johnson doesn't owe anyone a "War Eagle" if he doesn't feel it. But as long as those 2017 tapes exist, he'll always be a part of the story, whether he likes the "Eh" label or not.