Why UFL exec Daryl Johnston is ‘very proud,’ confident in ‘matured’ new Texans corner Damon Arnette Jr.

HOUSTON – A year ago, Daryl Johnston wasn’t entirely sold on whether there had been enough personal growth from Damon Arnette Jr. to relaunch his football career.

Johnston informed the former Las Vegas Raiders first-round draft pick that he needed more time before he would grant him a second chance in professional football after a series of legal and personal problems had derailed him.

For Arnette, his path to playing and excelling for the Houston Roughnecks involved a major reordering of his life after hitting rock bottom personally and professionally.

This year, Johnston, the UFL executive vice president of football operations and a retired former Dallas Cowboys fullback and lead blocker for Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, became convinced in what he needed to see from Arnette from a maturity standpoint after performing his due diligence and allowed him to play. Arnette capitalized on the opportunity, excelling for the Roughnecks as a starter and returning an interception for a touchdown. He tried out for the Texans and was signed to a one-year, veteran minimum contract for $1.03 million with no guaranteed money.

Johnston told Arnette he’s proud of his progress and is staying on him to make sure he stays on the right path.

“I put a lot of effort into just making sure that Damon was in the right spot mentally, had put his past behind him,” Johnston told KPRC 2 during a UFL football clinic this week at TDECU Stadium at the University of Houston. “There was genuine remorse about what had happened and then you get with the appropriate people to get the facts of the matter and, then, you weigh all those different elements into it. When we got down to it, we really felt that Damon had earned the right to have a second opportunity to change his life around.

“So, we’re very proud of what he’s done with this opportunity. He’s still got a long way to go. I talked to Damon the day he signed with the Texans and said, ‘Hey, congratulations, that’s great stuff. I know it’s been a long journey, but you are just at the beginning. You’ve got so much work to do.’ And so I’m gonna be on him all the way through training camp, making sure that he’s got a friendly voice talking to him."

The Texans, who thoroughly looked into Arnette’s background, weren’t alone in having interest in the former Ohio State standout. The San Francisco 49ers, including general manager John Lynch, reached out to the UFL about Arnette. Another NFL team that displayed interest in Arnette and was exploring the possibility of adding him was the Green Bay Packers, per league sources.

“It was a couple of teams that were reaching out on him,” Johnston said. “He’s got everything you want, he’s got the length. He’s a former first round draft pick, so the talent is there. It’s really the maturity. Has he learned from what happened to him, his first opportunity when he was in Vegas?

“So, it was great to see the Houston Texans call, DeMeco Ryans, because John Lynch in San Francisco was another one that called about him. So you can see that he really fits that style of defense that DeMeco wants to install with the Texans coming from the San Francisco 49ers because those were probably the two busiest teams that were reaching out on Damon’s behalf."

Out of football for three years, Arnette last played in an NFL game in 2021 for the Raiders. He has played in 13 career games with seven starts and 29 tackles, one for a loss and three passes defensed. He was released by Las Vegas on Nov. 8, 2021 after a video was published showing him brandishing firearms and making death threats. No violent act was ultimately committed after Arnette went into a rage after being trolled by a young fan on social media direct messages.

However, the Raiders felt it was time to move on from Arnette as they were facing a public relations crisis with Arnette’s actions six days after wide receiver Henry Ruggs III caused a car accident that killed a woman and her dog and later pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence.

With the Roughnecks, Arnette didn’t have any issues, according to the team. He drew praise for his work ethic as he arrived early in the morning to start his daily activities routinely at 6 a.m. He finished the season with 35 tackles, one sack and one interception and drew praise as a good teammate.

"DA is a phenomenal human being," All-UFL Roughnecks safety Leon O’Neal Jr. told KPRC 2. “I think we go through things in life that we wish we could take back, and emotions can take over and we make bad decisions. I think he’s learning from those every single day. Him being in that room, just seeing the maturity with so much on his plate is really impressive, to be honest with you, and he was a big part of our team this year and why we were successful."

A father of two daughters and one son, Arnette expressed gratitude to Roughnecks coach Curtis Johnson and Johnston

The guidance Arnette has received from Jon Gruden, his former coach in Las Vegas, has been extremely meaningful to him.

“He’s got a whole new identity,” Gruden told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview after Arnette agreed to terms. “He doesn’t look the same. He doesn’t act the same. He’s not the same. He has changed his identity. He changed the circle of people in his life, in a good way. He’s focused. He’s determined. He’s got to make up for some time that he lost. He’s really concentrating on stringing good days together. I’m really proud of him.

“I see a guy who has reinvented himself. He has done it very impressively. I hope he continues to do that. We’ll all be able to pull for him. Some of the best stories I’ve been involved in with coaching is seeing guys turn it around from adversity. Darren Waller is a great example. He had problems and fixed himself. So did Maxx Crosby. Damon Arnette can do that as well. Hopefully, this opportunity leads to something great.”

A year ago, the answer was a firm no when Arnette sought a chance to play in the UFL. The answer changed, he believes, because he displayed improved maturity and determination.

“One, I had to take a look in the mirror,” Arnette said. “I had to make some serious life changes. And the main thing that I did was I invited back my support system, my foundation, and that’s probably something I will never let go of again because I see how dangerous it is to be trying to navigate in a new world, new environment, new situations with no experience. So, I definitely learn from that end. I said to coach Johnston, I needed him to tell me no, that I couldn’t play.

“That hurt my heart, you know what I’m saying? Because I’m thinking I’m doing everything right, but obviously I wasn’t because things just kept happening and I had nobody to blame but myself. I’m always thankful for coach C.J. and coach Johnston. It was just a blessing to be here."

Arnette emphasized that he has made significant life changes after dealing with a series of legal problems in the past.

How Roughnecks corner Damon Arnette Jr learned from past, made ‘serious life changes’ to become ‘best version of myself

“I’m 28 years old right now with three kids, with a mom and dad that loves me and has my back right now,” Arnette told KPRC 2. “With coaches, I feel like I’ve proved a complete turnaround. All the coaches that have been with me right now, I feel like their words would be more valuable because I’ve said a lot of things in the past. What I would say is what they see on film, that’s me being out of commission for three years,

Sources: Texans worked out Roughnecks corner Damon Arnette Jr., a former Raiders first-round pick, Monday

“I’m a dawg on the field. I’m more of a professional now than I ever was before. I wasn’t a professional before. I was just a dawg. I found professionalism and a calm state of mind. I feel like I’m the best version of myself that I’ve ever been.”

High profile sports litigator Daniel Moskowitz, who has represented several players in off-field issues, has been instrumental in helping Arnette.

“I tell all of my clients, many of whom find themselves on their last leg, there is a solution for everything,” Moskowitz said. “Damon took those words to heart and he ran with it. None of this surprises me. I saw firsthand the blood, sweat, tears and growth. Extremely proud of him and excited for him.”

From the standpoint of Johnston and the league, they wanted to be assured that Arnett was truly ready for this second chance.

Once Johnston performed his due diligence, his confidence grew in Arnette that he could be counted on. Now, he’s feeling great about the decisions on his status this year and a year ago.

“I think the big thing last year is he wasn’t separated far enough from it for us, he had another little bump in the road,” Johnston said in a telephone interview. “I thought he made a great decision last year. If you want this opportunity, we’re going to give you time to show you deserve it. The first time I met him, his appearance even, you see a completely different Damon Arnette. Very professional. He was remorseful for everything that happened. When I talked to everybody in his family, to every coach on his football journey to people I knew in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area who were mentoring him, everybody I talked to said he was genuinely changed and had a real honest sense of remorse. I asked everybody what happened to him. They said it was perfect timing. You get a first-round contract and you allow all the wrong people to come into your life and you walk away from the right people. The hardest lesson he had to learn.

“From the people I talk to in Houston, they all talk about his growth, his involvement in the community. He’s understanding the message. We talk to all of our players in Damon’s situation there’s an issue or reason why the NFL isn’t allowing them back in or will challenge them to earn their way back in. When we dig into that one thing it’s you have to be professional in everything you do. The football part is the easy part. He’s a first-round draft pick. Why are you here with us? It’s the little things. It’s being accountable, It’s being on time. It’s understanding the priorities every day. Athletic ability will only take you so far. Your knowledge and passion for the game has to be present every day. That’s what will allow us to say when the NFL asks us about Damon Arnette and what our thoughts are on him, about his growth as a man. In the NFL, they won’t wait for you. They will just move on. You need to not just be a good football player, you need to be a good man.”

During the youth football clinic, Johnston and O’Neal and other UFL staffers demonstrated football drills to Houston youth football players.

They went to Arlington and San Antonio, too, to conduct clinics.

“It’s been awesome,” Johnston said. “Building on the fundamentals, it’s a lot of movement. We really feel that it’s something you stack. Just kind of working with the finer points and the details. movement things to keep their balance, to keep their body weight and center of gravity in the right position. It’s amazing. It’s been fun to watch the kids.”

For O’Neal, a Cypress native who played collegiately at Texas A&M, it’s a lot of fun to teach the game to the younger generation.

“The biggest thing is just being in tune with what the coach is saying,” O’Neal said. “Little details. Sometimes, these kids want to rush and they don’t learn. So, we’re trying to make them walk through it, learn little things. And then as we go, we gradually get better. So, that’s the main priority.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com