Football intros are a vibe! Whether it’s an NFL star repping his college on Sunday Night Football or an LFL player hyping up the crowd, game-day introductions truly set the stage. However, when Danika Brace Johnson, a former LFL MVP and wife of Austin Johnson, did a playful challenge on Instagram, Saquon Barkley’s fiancée Anna Congdon didn’t hesitate to become a part of the conversation.
Brace made an IG post, with the question, “Back with another one .” The question that popped up in the video was quite playful, “Whose GAME DAY intro is better? Me or my husband’s?,” as she challenged her husband. The humor in the question was clear. Amidst this, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley’s fiancée Anna Congdon took to the comment section to write three words that said it all. “You’re an icon,” she wrote.
Danika Brace replied, “.” Anna Congdon’s engagement wasn’t just about football. It also emphasized the recognition and respect for women’s sports. Congdon has always remained as a strong vocal supporter of athletes and their families. Even Barkley once acknowledged, “I have an amazing fiancée. I can’t be the athlete I am and have the success I have without her.”
While the NFL continues to dominate the football landscape, leagues like the LFL (now rebranded) and the WFA (Women’s Football Alliance) also need significant exposure. It will give the female football players the needed funding to further the sport.
Danika’s question and Congdon’s response reflect the same. Brace wasn’t just any player. She was a force in women’s football, as she gained the honors of Defensive Player of the Year awards, MVP honors, and championship wins. And, Brace’s post has become a part of the larger debate that has spanned across many years.
The debate of game-day intros
There’s always been a clear difference in how the NFL and women’s leagues like the LFL approach their pre-game introductions. In the NFL, the vibe is mostly calm and classic. Players stand before the camera, drop their name, rep their college, and keep it short. It’s almost ritualistic—structured, predictable, and deeply rooted in tradition. Occasionally, someone like Travis Kelce will switch it up with a shoutout to his high school, or Terrell Suggs will drop a line like “Ball So Hard University,” just to keep fans on their toes. But for the most part, the tone is clean and conservative.
Now enter the LFL, where game-day intros were a show in themselves. Forget just saying a name—these intros were full-blown hype reels. Loud voice-overs, flashy edits, players walking out in slow motion with intense stare-downs and explosive energy. It was theatrical, dramatic, and unapologetically entertaining. It was made to make fans feel something, and players like Danika Brace thrived in it.
Brace didn’t just participate in the LFL’s brand of performance. She owned it. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, and championship winner. And recently, she’s been using social media to bring that LFL swagger back into the conversation.
In one of her posts earlier this year, Danika threw out a cheeky question: “Whose interceptions are better? My husband’s or mine?” It wasn’t random. Her husband, Austin Johnson, is a defensive tackle in the NFL, and he made headlines last season for snagging two career interceptions. That’s a rare stat for his position and definitely worth celebrating. But Danika’s resume as a middle linebacker is packed with picks, big plays, and game-defining stops. And the kicker? She did it all in a league that’s constantly fighting for attention, respect, and basic recognition.
Danika’s posts have humor, sure, but they also hit on something deeper. They bring women’s football into the spotlight in a way that’s natural and impactful. She’s reminding everyone that women in football can run routes, make picks, and lay hits just like their male counterparts. And more importantly, they do it without the luxury of primetime lights or multi-million dollar backing.
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