Packers Q&A with Johnathan Abram

Johnathan Abram was a first-round draft pick by the Raiders in 2019. He started 27 games in 2020 and 2021 and the first six games of 2022 but was released on Nov. 8.

The Packers claimed him off waivers the next day. A few days later, he helped make the tackle on the opening kickoff against Dallas.

Q: What have these past few days been like, going from playing off the bench to being released to being claimed by the Packers?

A: I’m excited. It’s an unfortunate situation having to up and move in the middle of the season, but I look forward to the new start. The guys have embraced me. The coaching staff has embraced me. It’s been nothing but welcome and love, so I look forward to it.

Q: Did you need a fresh start?

A: I wouldn’t say I needed one, but I’m eager for the opportunity, just planning on taking advantage of the one I have now.

Q: What do you have to prove?

A: I don’t have anything to prove. I’ve played a lot of football, a lot of good football and people around the league notice that, which is kind of why I’m here today, so like I said, I’m just happy for the opportunity.

Q: You were teammates with Keisean Nixon with the Raiders. He said you’re close friends.

A: That’s one of my best friends. I’m excited to be back here with him. We don’t plan on enjoying the cold, but we’re going to make the most out of it together. Probably going to make some snow angels or something.”

Q: He also said you have matching tattoos.

A: Oh, yes, we do. We have shark tattoos. Yes, we have matching shark tattoos.

Q: Why sharks?

A: Because sharks, the motto is, “On Mondays, sharks don’t wake up and say it’s Monday. They wake up and just eat.”

Q: When did that happen?

A: We got it about two years ago.

Q: Did you go together? How did that happen?

A: Kind of more so we talked about getting matching tattoos and that was the one tattoo that I kind of wanted and then when he actually saw it on me, he kind of wanted to follow up with the same.

Q: You and Darnell Savage were drafted in the first round in 2019. Do you get to know him before the draft?

A: I spent a lot of time with Darnell. I look forward to working with him and Adrian (Amos). My previous DC (defensive coordinator) at Mississippi State, Bob Shoop, he coached Adrian in college. So, I watched a lot of his film, him playing nickel. We actually wore the exact same number, 38.

I got to spend some time with Darnell when we were at the Senior Bowl for the draft. Leading up to it, we had a little back and forth going about who was going to be the first safety to get taken. He kind of beat me on that one. Shoutout to him.

Q: You were teammates with Elgton Jenkins in college.

A: That’s my boy. I’m excited to be back here with him and Preston Smith. We kind of talked about it, we’re joking about bringing back the Bulldogs together. We have Kylin Hill here, as well. We’re going to kind of make this Green Bay Bulldogs.

Q: Georgia’s the Bulldogs, too. There are a few of those guys here.

A: Hey, I went to Georgia, as well, too. So, I kind of get to play both sides of the field. Go Dogs.

Q: I had read that you had a big shoe collection. Do you still?

A: Yes, I do.

Q: About how many pairs?

A: I had around 700 shoes at one point in time. But recently, I started to get rid of some things, some old shoes I didn’t wear. I kind of started to filter out all the Adidas stuff because I’m a Nike athlete now. I kind of slimmed up a little bit.

Q: You didn’t throw them away, did you?

A: Never. But wear all of them, though. I try to wear everything. I wear something new every day. Today I have one — Family Pack, only one of 223. 136/223. This is the Family Pack from Jordan, Art Basel.

(Note: That particular pair of shoes, which are green and black so a good fit for his new team, can be purchased for about $10,000.)

Q: Did you pack those?

A: No, I wore those. I had to come in style.

Q: In that story, I think it said you have a whole wall of shoes?

A: I have a room dedicated to shoes.

Q: How big is the room?

A: It’s a big room.

AT A GLANCE

Number: 44

Position: Safety

Age: 26

Season: Fourth

College: Mississippi State