NASHVILLE – Running back Chris Johnson and offensive lineman Kevin Mawae shared some memorable moments together in Tennessee with the Titans.
They'll share another one this weekend in Canton – Johnson plans to make the trip to Ohio to see Mawae get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He'll be joined by a big number of his teammates in Tennessee.
"Me and Mawae, we are good friends," Johnson said. "Ever since I got to Tennessee, we were always cool. The running back and the offensive line have to have a good relationship and we always had a good relationship. He always looked out for me, and I just want to be there for his big day."
Mawae played 16 NFL seasons (1994-2009), including four seasons with the Titans (2006-09). He began his career with the Seahawks and also played with the Jets before retiring after the 2009 season in Tennessee. Mawae was named to eight All-Pro teams, and eight Pro Bowls during his career while playing in 241 career games.
Mawae blocked for Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin with the Jets, and for Johnson during his 2,006-yard season in Tennessee.
Mawae and Johnson were teammates for two seasons in Tennessee (2008-09). Johnson ran for 1,228 yards as a rookie, and then followed it up with the best year of his 10-year career.
"He was the leader of the offensive line," Johnson said. "We had our talks – the running back and the offensive line would meet up – and we'd watch these plays together. They knew how I liked to run certain plays, and I knew how they liked to block certain plays. It got to the point where we'd be in the room and you would hear Kevin Mawae correct another offensive lineman and be like: "You need to do this, because C.J. likes to do this or likes to do that.'
"It was just amazing how we came together. I felt like he was always looking out for me."
Johnson played in the Hall of Fame game as a player during his days with the Titans, and he later returned to Canton as a player with the Cardinals.
This weekend, however, will be special. Johnson said former Titans fullback Ahmard Hall and all of the team's offensive linemen from the 2,006-yard season plan to make the trip to the Hall of Fame as well.
"This will be the first time one of my actual teammates that I played with is getting inducted," Johnson said. "Me being a part of the (2,006)-yard season that he blocked for, it was amazing. A bunch of us want to be there to support him.
"I am very happy for him, that he's getting in. He played so long, and the way that I saw him work and the way that I saw him play on the field, he's so deserving. I just want to be there for him."
Former Titans center Kevin Mawae, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, is introduced at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photos)
Former NFL player Kevin Mawae takes a selfie on stage at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul Abell/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Former NFL player Kevin Mawae appears at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul Abell/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Ed Reed, from left, Kevin Mawae, Ty Law, Tony Gonzalez, Gil Brandt, Brittany Bowlen on behalf of Pat Bowlen, and Champ Bailey who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Ed Reed, from left, Kevin Mawae, Ty Law, Tony Gonzalez, Gil Brandt, Brittany Bowlen on behalf of Pat Bowlen, and Champ Bailey, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Ed Reed, from left, Kevin Mawae, Ty Law, Tony Gonzalez, Gil Brandt, Brittany Bowlen on behalf of Pat Bowlen, and Champ Bailey who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Ed Reed, from left, Kevin Mawae, Ty Law, Tony Gonzalez, Gil Brandt, Brittany Bowlen on behalf of Pat Bowlen, and Champ Bailey who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Kevin Mawae, from left, Ty Law, and Tony Gonzalez, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Champ Bailey, from left, Gil Brandt, Ty Law and Kevin Mawae are announced as the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul Abell/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Champ Bailey, from left, Gil Brandt and Kevin Mawae are announced as the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul Abell/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Champ Bailey, from left, Gil Brandt and Kevin Mawae are announced as the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul Abell/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Ed Reed, from left, Champ Bailey and Kevin Mawae are announced as the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul Abell/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Ed Reed, from left, Kevin Mawae, Ty Law, Tony Gonzalez, Gil Brandt, Brittany Bowlen on behalf of Pat Bowlen, and Champ Bailey, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Gil Brandt, from left, Kevin Mawae and Tony Gonzalez are announced as the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul Abell/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Ed Reed, from left, Kevin Mawae, Ty Law, Tony Gonzalez, Gil Brandt, Brittany Bowlen on behalf of Pat Bowlen, and Champ Bailey who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Ed Reed, from left, Kevin Mawae, and Ty Law, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
From left, Kevin Mawae, Ty Law, Tony Gonzalez, Gil Brandt and Brittany Bowlen, appearing on behalf of her father, Pat Bowlen, who will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Kevin Mawae, from left, Ty Law, Tony Gonzalez, Gil Brandt, and Brittany Bowlen on behalf of Pat Bowlen, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019, speak at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Joy Asico/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
Titans Online looks back at the Titans career of Hall of Fame center Kevin Mawae, who played in Tennessee from 2006-09. (Photos)
Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Washington, DC on October 15, 2006.
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 6, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. St. Louis Rams at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on December 13, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Arizona Cardinals at LP Field in Nashville, Tn on November 29, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 6, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on December 20, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills game at the Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY on December 24, 2006.
Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on December 20, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. St. Louis Rams at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on December 13, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on November 23, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 19, 2006.
Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots at LP Field, Nashville, TN on December 31, 2006.
Center Kevin Mawae (68) of the Tennessee Titans blocks upfield against the Jacksonville Jaguars Oct. 4, 2009 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin on September 1st, 2006.
Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens November 12, 2006
Quarterback Kerry Collins (5) of the Tennessee Titans sets for a snap behind center Kevin Mawae (68) against the Indianapolis Colts at LP Field in an ESPN Monday Night Football game October 27, 2008 in Nashviille, Tennessee. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens November 12, 2006
Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens November 12, 2006
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts at LP Field, Nashville, TN on December 3rd, 2006
Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 23, 208.
Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on December 20, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on October 11, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on December 20, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Arizona Cardinals at LP Field in Nashville, Tn on November 29, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on December 20, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburg, PA on September 10, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 6, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida on October 4, 2009. Photo by Donn Jones
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida on October 4, 2009. Photo by Donn Jones
Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn on December 7, 2008. Donn Jones
Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49'ners at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California on November 8, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn on December 7, 2008. Donn Jones
Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn on December 7, 2008. Donn Jones
Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 23, 208.
Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 23, 208.
Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 23, 208.
Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 23, 208.
Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on November 9, 2008.
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts in Nashville, TN at LP Field for Monday Night Football on October 27, 2008.
Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 23, 208.
Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 2, 2008.
Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on November 9, 2008.
