Remembering Rembert

He was as dependable as they come playing linebacker for the New England Patriots. A steady player, Johnny Rembert enjoyed ten seasons (1983-92) with the Patriots. His best seasons came in 1988 and 1989 when he earned Pro Bowl Honors. “My experience there (New England) was great,” said Rembert. “When I first got there it was a team full of veterans. We had a wonderful group and learned a whole lot from Steve Nelson and Don Blackmon – the linebackers crop.”

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Rembert was an integral part of the 1985 Patriots team, which was the first Patriots team to win the AFC Championship and play in the Super Bowl. However, in the end, New England fell hard to the Chicago Bears 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. Still, it was a season Rembert will never forget. “The Super Bowl year was a very special year and have dreams about it,” said Rembert. “I knew we had a really good football team. It was a wonderful feeling, a wonderful journey and it was a wonderful ride. Going down to Miami and even though we hadn’t won there in a long time, we just knew. We were ready and prepared for that game. Going down there and beating them to go to the Super Bowl is a memory I will never forget and being a part of carrying Raymond Berry off the field.”

These days, Rembert resides in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife Tena. They have two boys J.R. and Johnathan and three girls: Brandis, Casey, and Mia. “I grew up in southwest Florida in a little town called Arcadia,” said Rembert. “My plans were to move back to Florida once I finished my football career up in New England. I am a Florida born kid and it’s hard to get us out of the state.”

For work, Rembert was recently named the Director of Athletics for Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida, which is an NAIA school. Rembert was hired to expand the school's athletic programs, fund-raising and community relations’ efforts. “It’s a black college here in Jacksonville, Florida and the school is over 130 years old,” said Rembert. “It’s a lot of fun and is always something I wanted to be a part of. I love the student-athletes and I love going to all the games. I am having a pretty good time.” One of the ways Rembert hopes to expand the school's fund-raising and community relations’ efforts is by using his NFL connections. In fact, at the press conference when he was announced as the Director of Athletics, NFL players Shawn Jefferson and Dexter Carter were at his side.

Outside of work, Rembert would play golf everyday if he could. “I enjoy playing golf,” said Rembert. “I like the competitiveness of it and playing against my peers. A lot of my friends we go out and we compete against each other. Just being out on the course you seem like you are away from everything.”

A fourth-round draft pick out of Clemson University, Rembert played his entire career with the Patriots, which is something he takes a tremendous amount of pride in. “I ended up finishing my career in New England and that was something special,” said Rembert. Even though Rembert is down in Florida, he still keeps a close eye on his former team and thinks the Patriots might be visiting him in Jacksonville on February 6. “I always follow them,” said Rembert. “I just know the Patriots are coming here (Jacksonville) this year. That would be a dream of mine if they came here to compete for the Super Bowl.”