On a recent episode of @therushpod, the Raiders rookie center dropped a bombshell: he confronted then-head coach Antonio Pierce mid-game last season and demanded to start at center.
“Coach, respectfully, I’m gonna play center,” JPJ recalled saying. “I can f***ing do this. I won the Remington [Award for best center]. I don’t care what you say — I’m gonna play center.”
JPJ said it was the first time he truly took ownership of his role — and he backed it up instantly.
“First or second play, I hip-tossed some dude and I was like, ‘I’m BACK! This feels good,’” he said, grinning.
It’s not often you hear a rookie calling his shot during the game — and delivering like a boss. JPJ might’ve just given Raiders fans a glimpse of the future — and it’s nasty in the trenches.
Since joining the Raiders, JPJ has quickly become one of the most talked-about young players on the roster. His mix of raw power, confidence, and leadership is rare for someone just entering the league. That mid-game decision wasn’t just bold — it was a statement to the locker room and the rest of the NFL.
Veterans reportedly respected the move. Some saw it as a much-needed jolt for a team trying to find its identity. “That kind of fire? You don’t teach that,” one teammate allegedly said after the game. “He wasn’t asking for permission. He was letting everyone know he was ready.”
Now heading into his first full season as the Raiders’ starting center, JPJ is already making headlines — not just for his play, but for his mentality. If this story is any indication, the Raiders may have just found their next franchise cornerstone in the heart of the offensive line.