ABOUT THE BOOK
The house on Daisy Way is an average house with an average family—or so it seems. Inside, there’s a secret room where Dad DJ keeps his suit and cape, transforming into Super DJ when his kids and the kids in the community need an extra boost of physical and mental strength to find their own super powers.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Derrick "DJ" Johnson
A former top defensive University of Texas Longhorn, and Waco, TX native, DJ was the 15th pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. In 13 seasons with the Chiefs, Johnson earned four Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl Defensive MVP, and he retired as the Chiefs’ all-time leading tackler.
During his time at UT, DJ won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the Nation’s top defensive player, the Butkus Award for the Nation’s top linebacker, and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Additional honors earned by DJ include the College Football Hall of Fame, University of Texas Athletics – Hall of Honor, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2012, while playing for the Chiefs, DJ founded the non-profit Defend the Dream Foundation, which provides low-income and inner-city youth the opportunities and resources to reach their full potential in school and in life.
In partnership with Kansas City Public Schools and Scholastic, Defend the Dream Foundation transformed libraries and unused areas in 16 elementary schools into reading areas called DJ’s Discovery Dens. The non-profit also donated over 25,000 children’s books to those schools.
In 2019, DJ returned to his native Texas, settling in Austin after a successful 13-year career in the NFL to continue Defend the Dream’s mission in a new city.
Launching its first Austin outreach project in 2022, Defend The Dream Foundation partnered with the Austin Ed Fund to update libraries in AISD Title 1 elementary schools. The Foundation invests $60,000 into each school library makeover by donating paint and graphics, new flexible furniture, and 1,000 new books to update the current collection and better reflect the diverse student population.
Brittni Johnson
Brittni Johnson combines her roles as a devoted mother, philanthropist, and wellness advocate to create lasting impact in the lives of young people.
Together with her husband, former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick “DJ” Johnson, she helms Defend the Dream, an organization with a powerful mission: to provide young people with the opportunities and resources necessary to reach their full potential both in school and in life. The foundation's work has created tangible, meaningful change across multiple communities.
At home, Brittni and DJ are raising their own young readers with six children ranging in age from 4 to 16. Prioritizing a healthy lifestyle is important for the whole family, and led Brittni to pursue a certification to teach Pilates.
Despite her busy schedule Brittni has cultivated interests that help her recharge. She enjoys playing tennis, indulging in cookies, relaxing by the pool, and shopping – activities that provide her with the balance necessary to maintain her high energy and positive outlook.