ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The words don't come easily to Alexander Johnson.
As we're speaking on June 11, his two-week-old daughter, all 8 pounds of her, is resting on his chest. For a man of his size, those 8 pounds may be barely perceptible to him, but there's a magnitude that he clearly feels that goes beyond just the physical.
"Man, it's hard to explain," Johnson says. "It's so lovely."
After Ada's birth on May 27 to him and Johnson's fiancée, Alyce, the Broncos linebacker has felt fortunate that he's been able to spend so much time at home. The novel coronavirus pandemic may have created a lot of upheaval to the norms of daily life and interrupted the team's usual offseason training, but since he's able to train remotely and attend virtual meetings, Johnson has been home with his family much more than he normally would have.
"Right now we would usually be in [mini]camp, but this has actually been a blessing not having to be in camp," Johnson says. "I'm able to spend a lot of time with my baby right now. I'm going to take full advantage of that until we have to report back to the office."
Having a child is obviously a life-changing event; it changes how you spend your days, and it also changes your perspective. Johnson says he believes that Ada's arrival in his life has only accentuated his spirit, in addition to making him feel a growing sense of responsibility as a provider.
"I've always been an uplifting guy," Johnson says. "Ain't much that can get me down. But just her being around, it just uplifts my spirits even more. I can just look at her, and [it'll] bring a smile to my face. And it's, like, each day, every day I wake up, now you really know you've got somebody who's really dependent on you. You've got to go a little harder and just commit yourself to being an even better person when you know you've got somebody depending on you."
Beyond just the basic needs of food and shelter, Johnson recognizes and is excited by the knowledge that his decisions, words and beliefs will shape Ada's future. There's a considerable weight to it and it won't always be easy, but he is eager for the full journey that fatherhood is, all the ups and downs.
"I'm not nervous about it," Johnson says. "It's pretty much just enjoyment. It's funny. A lot of people are like, 'You're going to be a good dad!' I'm like, 'Nah, I'm not going to be a good dad.' And they look at me crazy, and I'm like, 'I'm going to be a great dad.'
"It's a process that I'm going to enjoy every moment of it. Obviously down the road, everything will have their difficulties in life and stuff like that, but without difficulties, you can't really shape yourself or make yourself. I'm just excited. It's so joyful."
As he becomes a parent, Johnson looks to his mother as a role model for the kind of provider and protector he aims to be.
"Obviously she taught us a lot of things, but one of the biggest things was she showed us instead of just telling us," Johnson says. "She showed us she's a hard worker; she worked two jobs a lot. Always kept food on the table. Even when things didn't seem like they were going right, she made sure we was good. We wasn't rich or nothing like that; we lived in the hood. But we never had to want for nothing. What we needed, we had. Obviously we didn't get everything we wanted, but she made sure what we need, we had it.
"… It takes a village to raise a kid, but [I look to] just the endurance and strength and passion and knowing you've got to do what you've got to do. No matter what comes across in your life or what happens, you've got to make sure you do what you've got to do to take care of your kids. And that's one of the biggest things that I know I'm going to do just from learning from my mother and my grandmom."
Those lessons will guide Johnson as he raises Ada — and what he hopes will be a growing family. Having grown up in a family with three brothers, Johnson knows that a big family can foster so much love.
"I always wanted a big family," Johnson says. "Just a start with my first one; I want to have three more kids. … I think a little bit of it is just the way my family was. I have three brothers, and just growing up with siblings and being able to compete with them and just have all the love around you — obviously you're going to have little fights here and there — but if anything goes wrong, you always can call on one of your brothers, and there's nothing like living with them right there beside you."
Johnson's dream is just beginning, and, with a laugh, he describes a piece of his future that he envisions.
"One of the biggest things that I do love the most is I was able to play sports with my brothers in high school," Johnson says. "So that right there is pretty amazing, and I just told my lady the other day, I was like, 'Man, shoot … when I'm, like, 45, 43, like older older, I don't got to call anybody to be like, "Hey, let's play some pickup ball!" I'll have my kids all with me to go play.'"
Until that point though, Johnson is content to simply stay in the moment. Ada, like all children, will grow up quickly, and he doesn't want to miss a thing.
"I've been wanting to be a dad for a while, and everything's been so amazing about the process," Johnson says. "I am enjoying every moment with her."
To celebrate Father's Day, take a look back through photos of several current and former Broncos players and coaches with their children.
John Elway and his son Jack make their way off the field after the Broncos' first-round Wild Card victory against the Jaguars at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO on December 27, 1997.
John Elway and his son chat in the locker room after the victory over Jaguars at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO on December 27, 1997.
San Diego: Randy Hilliard relaxes in the locker room with family members during the postgame celebration against the Green Bay Packers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA on January 25, 1998.
Neil Smith and his son pose for a picture against the San Francisco 49ers at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO on September 3, 1999.
Alfred Williams celebrates the Broncos' Super Bowl XXXIII victory with his son on January 31, 1999.
Neil Smith and his son walk off the field after a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO on September 3, 1999.
Steve Atwater and his family rest on the sidelines before a special retirement celebration for Steve on August 19, 2000.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, left, jokes around with his 5-year-old son, Christian, and wife Lisa in the family's kitchen in the southeast Denver suburb of Parker, Colo., in this photograph taken on Aug. 16, 2000. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Steve Beuerlein's son goofs around while his dad conducts an interview with the media after a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, CO on December 29, 2002.
Mike Anderson's son holds his helmet while his dad signs autographs for the fans after a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, CO on December 29, 2002.
John Elway and his daughter pose for a photo next to his Pro Football Hall of Fame bust following the enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio in 2004.
Steve Atwater poses for a photo with his family during his induction into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 2005. Jamie Schwaberow/Rich Clarkson and Associates
Denver Broncos defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban walks off the practice field hand-in-hand with his son Ezra after the morning football training camp session at the Broncos' headquarters in Denver, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos safety John Lynch walks off the practice field hand in hand with his son Jake following the morning football training camp session at the Broncos' headquarters in Denver, Saturday, July 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Trevor Pryce carries his eight-month-old daughter, Khary, following practice for the AFC pro Bowl squad Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Former Broncos player and coach Steve Watson and tight ends coach Tim Brewster pose for a photo with their sons on the Mullen High School football team in 2006. Stephen Nowland/Rich Clarkson and Associates
Denver Bronco kicker Jason Elam's son Jason Jr. follows his dad into the locker room after Elam kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime against the Minnesota Vikings in 2007.
Denver Bronco wide receiver Brandon Stokley poses with his son Cameron in the Denver locker room after the team's win over the Oakland Raiders.
Former Bronco Tom Graham stands next to his son, Daniel, who is a tight end for the Broncos, before a 2008 game against Miami.
Floyd Little walks with his son, Marc, during Floyd's enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Britton Colquitt watching his son, Nash, try on Eric Decker's cleats following the opening session of training camp in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
Former Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and sons during a game the Miami Dolphins on November 23, 2014. Bailey was honored during the game after he announced his retirement.
Punter Britton Colquitt and his son enjoy some time together after practice during Denver Broncos training camp July 25, 2013.
Rick Upchurch,left, with his family during his Denver Broncos Ring of Fame induction at halftime of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 14, 2014
Ring of Fame linebacker Tom Jackson embraces his daughter after receiving the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2015 Pete Rozelle Award for his broadcasting career. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning warms up with his son, Marshall Manning, 4, prior to the Broncos' NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Denver Broncos tackle Tyler Polumbus (76) celebrates with his children after victory in the AFC Championship game between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots on Sunday, January 24, 2016, in Denver, CO. The Broncos won 20-18 to advance to Super Bowl. (Tom Hauck via AP)
Denver Broncos tight end Owen Daniels (81) lifts his son into the air in celebration after Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos won the game, 24-10. (Greg Trott via AP)
Former Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and his son pregame before the Broncos' Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys on September 17, 2017. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Terrell Davis poses with his family and his bust during a ceremony celebrating his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during a Broncos game on November 19, 2017. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles kisses his son, Kingston, after a preseason NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Denver. The Bears won 24-23. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Joe Jones and his daughter Scarlette talk with Justin Simmons and his daughter Laney during a PLAY 60 clinic in the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse at UCHealth Training Center on November 13, 2018.
Garett Bolles holds his son Kingston during a family breakfast at UCHealth Training Center on September 15, 2018.
Vic Fangio and his daughter Cassie Fangio during Training Camp at UCHealth Training Center in Centennial, Colorado, on July 25, 2019. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Shelby Harris and his daughter during Training Camp at UCHealth Training Center in Centennial, Colorado, July 26, 2019. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Todd Davis and his family during Training Camp at UCHealth Training Center in Centennial, Colorado, July 26, 2019. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Peyton Manning and son Marshall and daughter Mosley look out onto the field before the Broncos' game against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, October 13, 2019. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Running Backs Coach Curtis Modkins and his son during practice on Day 2 of training camp on July 19, 2019.
Wide Receivers Coach Zach Azzanni with his daughter after practice on Day 9 of training camp at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on July 27, 2019.
Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and his son Tom Donatell, who is a quality control/defense coach for the Seahawks, before a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on August 8, 2019.
Shelby Harris holds up his daughter, Evelyn, after a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers on the 20th day of training camp on August 17, 2019.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Nathaniel Willingham and his son, Augustus, at a family breakfast on Saturday on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Shelby Harris plants a kiss on his daughter, Evelyn, before the Broncos' game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park on October 6, 2019. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Pro Football Hall of Fame and Broncos Ring of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey and his son at practice on October 11, 2019 at UCHealth Training Center. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Mike Purcell and his son at a family breakfast on Saturday on October 12, 2019. (Photo by Jeremy Rincon)
Jim Ryan and his son Sam before the Broncos' game against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High on October 13, 2019. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Steve Atwater poses for a photo with his sons DiAndre and Paris after he spoke to Denver media about his election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at a press conference on February 6, 2020. (Photo by Ben Swanson/DenverBroncos.com)
Jurrell Casey and his family — including Ryann, his wife, and their two children — at a protest for racial justice in downtown Denver on June 6, 2020. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
