Johnny "the Jet" Rodgers 

In 1972, Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers was the first Nebraska Cornhusker to receive the coveted Heisman Trophy from the New York Downtown Athletic Club. The Omaha Technical High graduate led the nation’s number one team to a national championship as a punt returner, pass receiver, blocker and running back.

Honors recognize Johnny’s athletic ability, but he is also proud of his 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.

 

In addition to starting Rodgers Literary Marketing, Inc., Johnny is the founder of the Johnny Rodgers Youth Foundation.  His program creates opportunities for youth through character, educational, and social development. Its partnership with the Network for Holistic Recovery allows at-risk youth to be exposed to wrap-around services through a culturally competent network of case managers, service providers, and other resources in the community at-large.

During the last 10 years Johnny has worked hand-in-hand with business leaders as a certified annual planning program facilitator for the Best Year Yet and Producing Results Systems. Johnny has developed a series of structured talks to help teams and organizations become masters at producing results.

 

Maximizing those results is the focus of Performance Solutions Worldwide and E-Incentive Solutions, web-based incentive, reward and thank you programs, recently launched by Johnny and his partners.

Johnny also represents and promotes Max International.  He personally benefits from using the company’s products.

In demand as a public speaker, 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 state’s Husker 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 on its list of Top 10 Players in College Football Ever as Wide Receiver.