Last year about this time Tyler Johnson was coming off an MVP performance in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in a Gophers win over Auburn University.

On Feb. 7 he will again be playing at Raymond James Stadium, but that’s now commonplace as the stadium is home to Johnson’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What’s different is this time he will be playing for a Super Bowl championship.

North Minneapolis’ Tyler Johnson (18) celebrates a catch in the NFC Championship win against the Green Bay Packers. Photo courtesy of Tyler Johnson’s Facebook

Johnson’s Bucs advanced to the championship game following a 31-26 Jan. 24 victory over Minnesota’s hated rival Green Bay Packers – an added feather in Johnson’s cap. In that game Johnson had one catch for 16 yards and drew a key pass interference penalty that helped seal the Tampa Bay win.

In what is turning out to be a dream season for the rookie fifth round wide receiver from North High, Johnson played 14 games, starting three and finishing the regular season with 12 catches for 169 yards and two TDs.

Those catches came from the arm of the man considered the greatest NFL quarterback of all time, Tom Brady. Brady signed with the Bucs this off season after playing his entire career in New England. With the Patriots he guided the team to six Super Bowls wins and nine appearances – both NFL records.

Almost all of the Northside has been cheering for Johnson.

Teammates Tyler Johnson (left) and Tom Brady celebrate their NFC Championship win that vaulted them into the Super Bowl. Photo courtesy of Tyler Johnson’s Facebook

“From the first day you came to football practice at Minneapolis North High School when we had only 18 players on the team, ‘we’ knew you were special,” proudly wrote Thomas Waltower, one of Johnson’s football coaches at North, on his Facebook page. “But your grind got you past North HS, University of Minnesota, now with Tampa Bay Buccaneers in your rookie season.”

Johnson may be thousands of miles away from North Minneapolis, but he continues to represent NFL (Northside For Life). On his Facebook page the former Polar posted a photo of the new North basketball uniforms with the fire emoji and he later posted a tribute to his former North football teammate, Charles Royston, Jr., who was killed Jan. 14.

Johnson will bring a ring back to North Minneapolis if the Bucs can defeat the defending champion Kansas City Chief. The Feb. 7 game takes place at 5:30 p.m. and airs on CBS (WCCO).

Tyler Johnson, Bucs make it to the Super Bowl