Devastated New York Jets star Jermaine Johnson has announced the death of his beloved dog Apollo.

Johnson posted on social media that he had to ‘put my best friend down today’ in a heartbreaking message.

He wrote: ‘I’m absolutely crushed… ngl I’ve never had to do it and seen the way people would react and would think “no way it will be THAT bad.” Well… it is that bad. I loved him and he loved me.

‘Anyway prayers my way and his way for his safe deliverance into heaven. Thank yall.’

In another post, he added: ‘I ain’t gon lie my heart so cold after this… I ain’t ever gon judge anyone else for how they feel after losing their dog. I never thought it would hurt that bad.

‘I’m one hair follicle away from crashing out. If you have a dog then take ’em for a walk or let them sleep in the bed tonight or let them up on the couch if you don’t for the one time. Cuz when they gone, they gone and it’s not gon hit until that doorbell ring and it’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅ silent.’ 

Devastated New York Jets star Jermaine Johnson has announced the death of his dog Apollo

Johnson posted that he had to ‘put my best friend down today’ before delivering this tribute

His girlfriend shared a picture of them having breakfast in New York on Friday morning 

His girlfriend, Hannah Brooke, shared a picture of them having breakfast in New York on Friday – tagging Delta, which suggests they were going traveling.  

Johnson suffered a devastating Achilles tear in September 2024, meaning he missed the majority of last season. 

A Pro Bowl selection in 2023, he suffered a similar injury to the one that sidelined Aaron Rodgers after just four snaps into his Jets debut almost two years ago.

Johnson, who will enter his fourth NFL season later this year after being drafted in the first round out of Florida State in 2022, has 10 career sacks.