Inspiring Young Men, From The Superbowl, To Church, To Rikers

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: Inspiring Young Men, From The Superbowl, To Church, To Rikers
Date: February 23, 2026
Guests: Kyla Johnson (Director, "Fatherless no More")
Main Subject: The transformative work of Tim Johnson, former NFL player turned pastor, mentoring incarcerated youth at Rikers Island, as chronicled in the documentary "Fatherless no More".

---

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the inspiring journey of Tim Johnson, a Super Bowl-winning defensive lineman who found a new calling as a pastor ministering to young men at Rikers Island. The conversation with Kyla Johnson—Tim's daughter and the director of the documentary "Fatherless no More"—illuminates his unconventional path from professional sports stardom to hands-on mentorship in one of America's most notorious jails. The discussion delves into themes of redemption, love, the impact of fatherlessness, and the transformative power of genuine connection.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tim Johnson’s Background and Motivation

• Achievement in Sports:
  Kyla Johnson shares her father’s rare accomplishments:

  “My dad is a 10 year NFL vet. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers… the Washington [Football Team]… and finished his career at the Cincinnati Bengals. He also won a national championship at Penn State. Very rare that you see an athlete win a national championship and a Super Bowl.”
  (02:08)

• Spiritual Calling:
  After his football career, Tim became a pastor. His motivation to work at Rikers came as a direct spiritual message:

  “He was praying one day, he asked, you know, 'Father, show me the secrets of your heart.' And he heard Rikers Island... He’s a Florida boy through and through…one thing led to another and he's in an RV on Rikers Island.”
  (02:49)

The Initiative at Rikers: Why “Initiative” Not “Program”?

• Intentional Language:
  Kyla stresses the difference between an "initiative" (voluntary, intentional involvement) and a "program" (mandatory or routine):

  “My dad will get on me if I don't say it's an initiative...The guys have to want to be in the initiative...This is truly a choice.”
  (03:48)

• Institutional Reception:
  Reaction from Rikers staff ranged from skepticism to hope:

  “Some of the COs are like, ‘What is this pastor doing here?’... But some of the staff were desperate for change...He did something that had never been done before, which is living in an RV on Rikers Island.”
  (03:48–05:03)

The Power of Affection & Love

• Physical Affection as Disarmament:
  Tim’s approach includes direct physical and emotional gestures—like touching the young men’s faces and telling them he loves them:

  “When you see Black men, you don't get to see pure affection in that way...showing affection and showing that type of love can be awkward. And then on top of that, being in a prison...love as a way to disarm these young men is really how he was able to open the door to build trust.”
  (05:44)

• Young Men’s Initial Reactions:
  The first encounters were uncomfortable, but quickly changed:

  “Initially it was, 'What are you doing?' ...But it quickly turned into, 'When is he coming back?' ...They wait in a line now for him to grab their face and just speak life into them.”
  (06:45)

Authenticity through Shared Experience

• Tim’s Own Fatherlessness:
  Tim’s background echoes many of the youths’ own struggles:

  “My dad grew up not knowing who his father was...he comes from a real genuine place, not some big-time Super Bowl champion coming in and trying to tell you how to live your life, but speaking from experience.”
  (07:35)

  This authenticity helps build trust and offers a model for overcoming hardship.

Community & Family Perspective

• Including Families:
  The documentary intentionally features the families of the incarcerated:

  “It’s important to share the wholeness of the person...we were able to get more in depth in their stories when we interviewed the moms and aunts...they know them beyond just the mistake they made.”
  (08:36)

What Tim Leaves with the Young Men

• The Impact of Belonging:
  Beyond activities like basketball and sharing pizza, the underlying message is love and worth:

  "The biggest thing is love…you don't really understand how disarming love can be until you experience the Father’s love...We were just at Rikers...one of the young men said, 'Being in this initiative, it gives me something to live for.'"
  (09:41)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kyla Johnson on Tim's Motivation:

  “He really is just a man that seeks God's heart and wants to know what's on his heart...when he was praying one day, he...heard Rikers Island, which was kind of out of the blue.” (02:49)

• On Affection in Prison:

  “The fact that he kind of flipped that on its head and used love as a way to disarm these young men is really how he was able to open the door to build trust.” (05:44)

• A Participant’s Own Words:

  “One of the young men said, ‘Being in this initiative, it gives me something to live for.’ ...Some of these guys make these decisions because they don't think they have anything to lose.” (09:41)

---

Key Timestamps

• [02:08] Kyla Johnson outlines Tim Johnson's sports career and rare accomplishments.
• [02:49] Kyla explains Tim’s spiritual calling and the genesis of the Rikers initiative.
• [03:48] Discussion on the intentional language of "initiative" and institutional reactions.
• [05:44] Exploration of why showing affection is both radical and effective in prison.
• [06:45] How the young men at Rikers respond to Tim’s approach over time.
• [07:35] Tim’s personal history of fatherlessness as an authenticity anchor.
• [08:36] The necessity of including family perspectives in the narrative.
• [09:41] The lasting impact Tim brings to the lives of the young men.

---

Summary Tone & Feel

The episode maintains a warm, introspective, and honest tone, reflecting on tough realities but foregrounding hope and transformation. Kyla Johnson shares candidly and with heartfelt respect for her father and those he serves, painting a vivid picture of hands-on compassion in a place “known to be hell on earth.” Tim Johnson’s story stands out as an emblem of faith- and love-driven action—meeting people at their most vulnerable and inviting them to imagine new possibilities.

---

Useful For:
Anyone interested in social justice, mentorship, documentary filmmaking, urban issues, or exploring the intersection of faith, trauma, and transformation—especially as it pertains to incarcerated youth and community healing.

Transcript

[LinkedIn Hiring Pro Advertiser]

The new LinkedIn hiring pro can't undo your last hire the empty seat who is actually just that, an empty chair in your office because you couldn't find someone to fill it, so it just sat there costing you money with all its fancy ergonomic features. But LinkedIn Hiring Pro can make it easy to fill that seat with the right candidate. With nearly 60% of businesses finding someone to interview in the first week alone, hire right the first time with LinkedIn Hiring Pro. Post your first job today and get $100 [e-mail] PandoraOffer terms and conditions apply.

[Nissan Pathfinder Advertiser]

There's an SUV that turns the unthinkable into the unforgettable. The new Nissan Pathfinder. Built for big adventures and all that family chaos. It's powered by a strong V6 engine with a nine speed automatic transmission. Inside, it's rugged and capable, but still premium and tech forward with room for up to eight passengers. It's also available with seven passenger seating and second row captain's chairs with massive hauling capability. Now you can bring all the gear you and your family need for unforgettable Adventures. The new V6 Nissan Pathfinder. Power your adventure.

[Alison Stewart]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Football fans may recognize Tim Johnson as a Super bowl defensive lineman, but in 2022, Johnson found a new calling, ministering to young men incarcerated on Rikers Island. His journey is the subject of a documentary, Fatherless no More, which is nominated at the NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Documentary, named after the initiative he founded. The film follows Tim as he lives in an RV just outside the Rikers gates. He spends his days praying, talking and playing basketball with the teens he mentors. The film offers an emotional look at Tim's relationships with the young men, their families, and the staff who work with them. Fatherless no More was directed by Kyla Johnson, who joined me a few months back to talk about the project. Kyla is also Tim Johnson's daughter. I started by asking her to first tell us more about her dad, the super bowl winning athlete.

[Kyla Johnson]

Yes, so my dad is a 10 year NFL vet. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and then he went to Washington and then he finished his career at the Cincinnati Bengals. He also won a national championship at Penn State way back in the day. But very rare that you see an athlete win a national championship and a Super Bowl. So he's accomplished quite a bit in his NFL career.

[Alison Stewart]

So why did Tim, this national superstar, feel compelled to travel across the country to mentor young men at RIKERS Island.

[Kyla Johnson]

Great. That's the question of the hour. So my dad, after football, actually became a pastor, and he really was transformed by the heavenly Father. And so he really is just a man that seeks God's heart and wants to know what's on his heart. And so when he was praying one day, he asked, you know, father, show me the secrets of your heart. And he heard Rikers island, which was kind of out of the blue because he's a Florida boy through and through. He doesn't have any incarcerated family in New York. He's not from New York. And so he was just like, what is this? And so of course, he submitted it to the family and just some trusted folks and one thing led to another and he's in an RV on Rikers Island.

[Alison Stewart]

What did the correction folks think of him wanting to start this program at Rikers Island?

[Kyla Johnson]

Well, my dad will get on me if I don't say it's an initiative. Programs. Yes. No, no, no. Just because the guys want to have to want to be in the initiative where programs, you can sign up, do what you need to do, and just get what you need and leave. But this is really truly a choice for them to be a part of. But I think there was mixed reviews. Obviously some of the CEOs are like, what is this pastor doing here? Just another pastor trying to get his, you know, one, two sense of fame and get the cameras rolling. And then I think the other bit of it was some of the staff were desperate for change. I mean, we know Rikers to be hell on earth, essentially. And when he arrived on Rikers island, it was. The violence was at an all time high. I mean, they describe it as the place was truly on fire. And so the timing of it was of divine timing. And he, he really. I think they just were open doors, like, okay, well, if you're genuine about wanting to see change here, come on in. And he did something that had never been done before, which is living in an RV on Rikers Island.

[Interviewer]

We're talking about a new documentary. It follows super bowl champ turned pastor Tim Johnson after his faith inspired him to minister to young men on Rikers Island. I'm speaking with Kayla Johnson, the film's director. It's called Fatherless no More. It is so mo at the beginning of the film when he's meeting these young men or, or boys, because some of them are early teenagers. And he. Tim touches their face.

[Kyla Johnson]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And he tells each one of them that he loves them.

[Alison Stewart]

Why is that important to show that kind of affection? For these young men in prison,

[Kyla Johnson]

I think, I mean, when you see black men, you don't get to see pure affection in that way. And he says it in the film, we're created to be loved. And it's just so interesting that showing affection and showing that type of love can be awkward. And then on top of that, being in a prison, I mean, being in a jail, I wanted to correct myself. But being in that environment, that is a sign of you're trying to hurt somebody or you're trying to cause harm. And so the fact that he kind of flipped that on its head and used love as a way to disarm these young men is really how he was able to open the door to build trust. So I think it was important to showcase that because that was the first step to even getting as far as he did and seeing the transformation that happens throughout the film.

[Alison Stewart]

How. How did the gentleman respond in prison when this man comes up and touches their face?

[Kyla Johnson]

Well, initially it was very much, what are you doing? I'm kind of putting my guard up. I don't know this man, what's going on. But it quickly turned into, when is he coming back? And I can't wait. They wait in a line now for him to grab their face and just speak life into them. But, yeah, that initial meeting of him sitting with 12, 13 guys that were not supposed to be in a room together, it was definitely uncomfortable, to say the least.

[Alison Stewart]

And it's interesting they really responded to

[Interviewer]

him because he's truthful with them about his own history.

[Alison Stewart]

Would you share a little bit that,

[Kyla Johnson]

yeah, my dad grew up not knowing who his father was. I remember him telling stories about just not even remembering a picture of what the man looked like. And so I think he comes from a real genuine place, not some, you know, big time super bowl champion coming in and trying to tell you how to live your life, but speaking from experience. And I think that really resonates with the young men in these situations because they don't want to be talked at, they want to be related to. And so when he was able to relate to them, I think they were like, okay, well, if he is able to trust God and build a relationship with the heavenly father in this way and feel fulfilled without even knowing his earthly dad, then what does that look like for me? And I think that also opened the door for him to really speak into their lives.

[Interviewer]

You also got in touch with some of the families of the young men who were incarcerated. Why was it important to feature families in this?

[Kyla Johnson]

Because I Think it's important to share the wholeness of the person. I mean, you can know these guys by maybe their number, but I really wanted them to be described beyond just like the people that they were in close proximity to. And so we really were able to get more in depth in their stories when we interviewed the moms and aunts of the young men because they know them beyond just the mistake they made, but from, you know, young kids growing up and their personalities and, you know, their family dynamic and all that. So that was really important for me to capture because I wanted to get the wholeness of a person, not just one side of the.

[Interviewer]

What does Pastor Tim, aside from playing basketball and getting some good pizza,

[Alison Stewart]

what

[Interviewer]

does he give them and what does he leave them with?

[Kyla Johnson]

I think the biggest thing is love. And I think that can, you know, you can be like, oh, that's cliche. But you don't really understand how disarming love can be until you experience the Father's love, the heavenly Father's love. And I think that God sent him there to express that to those young men. And so I really believe that he wanted to show them how much they're loved and how much they belong. And when you know that you belong, then you start to think differently. We were just at Rikers, I think a week and a half ago, two weeks, no, last week, and one of the young men said, being in this initiative, it gives me something to live for. And that really struck me because some of these guys make these decisions because they don't think they have anything to lose. And he said that he has something to live for and he has something to lose. And so I think that is what he brings to them.

[Alison Stewart]

That was director Kyla Johnson speaking about her father Tim Johnson, who is the subject of the documentary Fatherless no More. The film is nominated for an NAACP Image Award for outstanding documentary. Next we'll finish the hour with some music. Let us see will be in studio to discuss her tribute album to Dinah Washington which has earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for outstanding jazz album.

[Nissan Pathfinder Advertiser]

There's an SUV that turns the unthinkable into the unforgettable. The new Nissan Pathfinder. Built for big adventures and all that family chaos. It's powered by a strong V6 engine with a nine speed automatic transmission. Inside, it's rugged and capable, but still premium and tech forward with room for up to eight passengers. It's also available with seven passenger seating and second row captain's chairs with massive hauling capability. Now you can bring all the gear you and your family need for unforgettable adventures. The new V6 Nissan Pathfinder power your adventure.

[LinkedIn Hiring Pro Advertiser]

Having the right people in your corner for life's biggest milestones makes all the difference. Like a friend who's there when you're house hunting or checking out a new ride, State Farm is there too, helping you choose the coverage you need. With a State Farm agent, you know someone is there to help you along the way. And with so many coverage options, it's nice knowing you have help choosing a plan that fits your needs so you can continue celebrating all of life's milestones. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.