Former Auburn Tigers quarterback will star in Brady-Manning style championship with GOAT implications
Jeremy Johnson has been etching his name in Mexico’s pro football history since 2023. Now he gets a chance to lead the league’s first-ever dynasty while making the ultimate case in the GOAT debate.
Jeremy Johnson, the former Auburn Tigers quarterback, is part of one of the largest debates in Mexico’s pro football league, the LFA: the GOAT conversation.
The case for Johnson is simple. In 2023 and 2024, he led the Chihuahua Caudillos to two two undefeated seasons. He was named league MVP and Mexico Bowl MVP in 2024. One year earlier, the MVP went to one of his wide receivers, Juwan Manigo, who later claimed it should’ve gone to Johnson.
And yet, as it often happens in sports, there is some disagreement (more on that later). But Johnson can put it all to an end next Sunday, June 7 in a Brady-Manning style matchup for all the marbles.
Johnson’s Caudillos to play for third championship in four years
Following a dramatic 25-23 win on Saturday night over the Valle de México Raptors, Johnson and the Caudillos are headed to the Tazón México IX (Mexico Bowl). It will be their third championship appearance in a four-year span.
With a win, the Caudillos can establish themselves as Mexico’s first true dynasty. Johnson has led the Caudillos in each of those championship seasons. Last season, when the Caudillos fell short in the semifinals, Johnson exited retirement to arrive midseason.
This year, Johnson led the LFA in passing yards and passing touchdowns, throwing for 20 touchdowns and four picks in six regular season games (it was a shortened season partly because of logistical problems involving the FIFA World Cup).
Johnson to star in a Brady-Manning style rivalry
Though NFL fans never got a Super Bowl starring Tom Brady and Peyton Manning since both played in the AFC, that’s essentially what LFA fans are getting next weekend. The main competitor to Johnson in the GOAT debate is Monterrey Osos quarterback Shelton Eppler (former Northwestern State QB).
Before this season, Eppler and Johnson had met three times in the playoffs, but always in the semifinals. Johnson is up 2 to 1 in that series. Including regular season games, Johnson is 5-2 against Eppler.
Year after year, LFA fans expect these two to face each other with the championship on the line but this will be the first time that happens. Johnson is seeking the first ever LFA dynasty while Eppler is in search of his second ring (he got his first before the Caudillos joined the league in 2023).
In such a close GOAT debate, a win for either Johnson or Eppler could shape how fans perceive the rivalry for years to come.
And for the former Auburn quarterback, it may be his last game as a pro quarterback. He considered retiring after the 2023 season, actually retired in 2025 before coming back midseason. Currently the offensive coordinator for Benjamin Russell High School, Johnson believes his future is in coaching.