John Tolkin
Photography by Peter Bonilla.
“In kindergarten, they asked me to write down three things I’d like to be when I grew up. I wrote down basketball player, owner of a bakery, and soccer player – in that order.”
Two of those didn’t work out. Fortunately, the last one did. After a steady climb through the ranks of his hometown club, John Tolkin has finally solidified himself as a starter for the New York Red Bulls at just 19 years old. It’s been an unconventional journey for a teenager, but John has taken all the right steps to be where he is today.
Born and raised in Chatham, NJ, John was like any other athletic kid from the area. Playing multiple sports was the norm, and running around his school’s cement courts was an everyday staple.
“I was one of those kids that played every sport. I loved basketball at the time, and I would play with my friends at school every single day. But I started soccer when I was just five years old, so that was also a big part of my life from a very young age,” he remembers.
Initially, John played in the rec leagues of Chatham alongside his brothers, and every team was assigned an MLS name.
“We were the Rapids, so I guess technically that was my first MLS team,” says John with a laugh. “I remember just scoring a lot of goals, and it was a fun little activity that we would do on the weekends as a family.”
Going into middle school, John continued to progress in the rec leagues of Chatham, but his love for both soccer and basketball had him torn.
“I had a neighborhood backyard basketball tournament going on, and it was super competitive. About fifteen of us would get together every day, and we would just be grinding in the backyard shooting hoops. It was a lot of fun. Sometimes I would be late for training because of those backyard tournaments. That was around the time when I had to choose between soccer and basketball. Still, as much as I loved basketball, it just didn’t compare to my love for soccer. I was doing well in soccer, and I was taking bigger and bigger steps.”
When he was 12, John decided to take a more committed approach to soccer, and he joined Ironbound Soccer Club, one of the most competitive youth teams in the state. At first, he was hesitant to leave his friends from his rec league, but he understood it was the logical next step if he wanted to improve. After two successful years with Ironbound, John was approached by the Red Bulls Academy to go play for them.
“I denied them at first,” laughs John. “I said no because I didn’t want to leave my teammates again and meet new people. My dad thankfully talked some sense into me and told me I had to try it out.”
On top of joining the Red Bulls Academy, John was also entering high school, which proved to be another challenge.
“School was tough,” says John. “I’m really not a big fan of school, to be honest. I just can’t sit still to do work. I need to be moving all the time, and it was difficult for me to balance school and soccer. I also had a lot of friends that played soccer on the high school team, and they would always ask me to join the team. It hurt me to have to say no, but I was in the Red Bulls Academy, so I simply couldn’t.”
Despite those difficulties with school, the transition to playing in the academy was a welcome one for John.
“It was just so cool. The academy field is right next to the first-team field, so I would look over and see all the guys that I’d see on TV or at the stadium just training next to me. Even then, though, I never imagined I would get to play with them. I just thought it was a fun environment to be in and nothing more.”
During his first year at the academy, John also had the opportunity to be a ball boy at Red Bull Arena for an official match. “I was starstruck. I was handing the ball off to guys like Danny Royer, Ryan Meara, and Sean Davis. I was over the moon.”
During his four years at the academy, John developed into a promising prospect with the chance to decide between top college programs in the nation and attractive options in USL.
“I really don’t like school, so the decision was easy for me,” remembers John. “But there were definitely some heated family discussions. My mom would say, ‘you need an education in case this doesn’t work out,’ and my dad would say, ‘no, he’s gonna do what he wants to do. This is his dream. We’ll do it.’ In the end, my mom got on board, but she just worried initially, as any parent would. After talking it through with my family, I just knew signing for the Red Bulls II was going to be the right move for me.”
John initially spent six months with the Red Bulls II in 2019, honing his craft and continuing to make significant strides to earn a spot on the first team. He remembers the jump to USL as being “difficult physically” and also challenging mentally in terms of recovering from mistakes on the field. Nevertheless, by the start of 2020, he was offered a professional contract by the first team.
“When I signed, I really didn’t feel anything at first,” John admits. “I had been training with the first team for a few weeks, so it wasn’t a huge change.”
The weight of signing for his hometown club wouldn’t hit until much later.
As for many youngsters in MLS, 2020 was almost a lost year. The pandemic halted the league for months on end, and it was fortunate that somehow a season was able to be played at all. During 2020, John alternated between the first team and the Red Bulls II, and he finished 2020 having had a solid overall season with the second team. By 2021, he was ready to make the official jump to the pros.
“Everything hit me once I finally made my debut. We were playing Toronto, and it wasn’t full capacity yet, but it was still an amazing experience. I had all my friends and my family from New Jersey there, which made it even more special. I felt like I was doing it for them. I got on the field with a big smile on my face, and I just felt like a weight coming off my shoulders – all the hard work finally paying off.”
During his climb to the first team, the players he had looked up to since his academy days gave him a hand. “I reminded Danny Royer, Ryan Meara, and Sean Davis about me being a ball boy, but they didn’t remember me, of course. But those guys were crucial for me. They’ve been at this for ten more years than me. They helped me and gave me advice when I needed it the most. Finally, I was in their shoes.”
After slowly earning his spot during the first half of 2021, John accomplished another important milestone – his first goal with the club.
“That day, I was just chilling at home, and my mom kept telling me, ‘I think you’re going to score today.’ I was like, ‘yeah, sure, whatever you say.’ I never thought I would even get to score as a pro. But I remember the play vividly. I remember sprinting up the length of the field, getting the ball near the goal, cutting it back, and just megging the keeper. It’s the first time I’ve ever gotten the chills during a game. Again, all the hard work I’d put in finally paid off. I had planned a few ways to celebrate in case I ever got the chance to score, but I forgot about all of them. I just remember sprinting to the corner and seeing my mom crying in the stands. It was surreal.”
On top of scoring and getting to play in MLS, sharing the field with legends he had grown up watching was another surreal experience for John.
“The two players that stood out to me were Higuain and Matuidi when we smacked them down in Miami. Those are two World Cup players. And I love having little conversations with them and making friends with opposing players. I was telling both of them that I was a big fan. But another player on our team started trash-talking Matuidi, and he just turned around and started listing all the trophies he’d won. It was just funny.”
While John checked off two personal goals in 2021 – debuting and scoring – the season as a collective was a rollercoaster. At one point, the Red Bulls sat with just a 6% chance of making the playoffs.
“It was about halfway through the season, and we weren’t doing well. It would have been the first time we didn’t make the playoffs, so we didn’t want to be known as that team. We had a team talk right after we lost to Columbus in the last minute. I got absolutely dunked on by Nagbe in that game, by the way. But right after that game, we sat down and said, ‘okay, we have to get 44 points out of these last remaining games.’ We ended up getting 42. That was the conversation that changed everything. On top of that, coach Struber is just a fantastic motivator. He can really light a fire under you.”
Thanks to that heroic second half of the season, John and the Red Bulls earned a spot in the playoffs, and they faced the Philadelphia Union in one of the most memorable playoff games in recent years.
“I remember the first time we played in Philly. The crowd was so nice and respectful. Come playoff time, though, the crowd was absolutely insane. By then, I had my mullet, and I got haggled the whole game. Not one person could give it a rest. They were brutal. In the end, I came onto the game in extra time, and they scored that banger. What can you do, really.”
It was a heartbreaking ending to the season, but there are still many positives that John has taken from his first year in the league.
“I remember going to Atlanta and playing in front of 40,000 people, or even that game against Philly, and feeling the crowd noise. It doesn’t affect the way I play, but a lot of times, I stop to think about how many people are actually watching us play. I stop to think about how much they care, and I guess it makes me stop and appreciate how much the game has grown so far in North America. I’m lucky that I get to step into it right at this moment.”
“I also just appreciate getting to travel around the country and get to talk to all these people. I'm very shy, but when I’m on the sideline, I like to talk to the security guards or the people in the stands. In Columbus, I just stopped to chat with a fan down the sideline, and he just kept calling me Ric Flair. It was hilarious. Those types of small moments are just special to me.”
With a successful season under his belt, John is already looking forward to what he wants to accomplish next. Still, just like when he was young, it’s all about staying in the moment and seeing where the journey takes him.
“I want to go play in Europe. I think that’s every kid’s dream. Even if it doesn’t work out, I just want to try it because if I have the opportunity, I’m going to take it. Wherever things lead me, I’ll go from there. I’m just going to focus on the day-to-day like I always have because that’s how you stay centered and get to where you need to be.”
“In terms of smaller goals, though, I want to start eating a little bit healthier just to up my game in 2022. On the other hand, though, I want to learn how to make blueberry scones since they’re my favorite.”
“I always did say I wanted to be a baker.”
After our interview with JMi, we asked you to submit your own questions for the RBNY talent. Here’s what he had to say:
What has been the biggest difficulty adjusting to MLS caliber play?
Playing in stadiums in front of that many people was probably the biggest adjustment, and just the speed of play was much faster. Other than that, it's been kind of the same, to be honest.
What’s one quality you think every aspiring athlete needs?
I don’t think it’s just one quality. But if I had to list out three, I would say commitment, discipline, and working hard. Everybody at the professional level really has talent, but the hard work you put in is what’s gonna win out in the end.
Do you still bake? What is/was your favorite thing to bake?
No, I don’t really bake much anymore. The most advanced thing I bake is the pre-made cookies and brownies. I don't know how to freaking bake, to be honest, but I love pastries, and it is fun making that stuff – it tastes great too! I would definitely like to start trying to do something more creative, so if anyone has recipes let me know.
How did you manage to deal with the mental aspect of the game given the standards and expectations?
I think it's pretty tough. If you have a bad training or something, it’s all about just leveling yourself up for the next day. I think that was the hardest for me. If I don't train well, it kind of ruins my whole day. If you can find things that can distract you from that, and help you reset, I think that goes a long way. The mental side is hard, but you gotta realize that all players everywhere have bad trainings and bad days. It’s normal.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I don’t know to be honest. I could be out of the sport for all I know. Hopefully, I'm playing in Europe, and hopefully, I'm playing for the national team too. That’s the dream, you know?
Do you have a dream club you’d like to play for?
It's gotta be Everton. I know they might get relegated this year, but that's just the team I've supported since I was younger. Let’s hope they stay in the Premier League.
What does JMi stand for?
That's from my uncle Scott. He gave me that nickname when I was really young. He said I needed a nickname, and he thought of JMi, which is short for John Michael. It's spelled with a capital J, capital M, and lowercase I. It’s an interesting nickname for sure, but it just stuck, and now when people call me John, I don’t really know who that is.
Favorite hobby?
Playing video games with my friends. Also, golfing.
Who is winning the World Cup?
I wanna say England, but they always choke in these tournaments. I have to go with France.
Have you seen Lord of the Rings? Who is your favorite character?
This character is from The Hobbit, but I love Smaug – the dragon. He’s sick.
Best place to get a bagel near your hometown?
Chatham Bagel. I’m biased, but y’all gotta check it out.
Why #47?
It was the number I got handed for my first game when I walked into the academy. It stuck, and I don’t plan on changing it.
Favorite Red Bulls memory?
Winning away this year in New England. We somehow won with that own goal, which was pretty epic. Then our flight got delayed, and some teammates and I decided to just Uber back home. I regretted it halfway through the 4-hour drive, but looking back now it was so funny and such a good time.
Funniest guy in the locker room?
It’s hard to pick just one. Tom Edwards and Tom Barlow are hilarious. We call Tom Barlow Thad Castle – he’s exactly like the character from Blue Mountain State. It makes me laugh.
Childhood hero?
Derek Jeter. I know it’s random, but when I was younger, I freaking loved that guy. I have a photo in my room of me sitting behind home plate and giving him a fistbump when I was a kid.
Favorite past Red Bulls player?
Connor Lade. He’s a left back and a legend.
Favorite soccer jersey? Any team.
Barcelona away kit 2012/13. The orange and yellow gradient was something else.
Most talented player you’ve gone up against in your pro career?
Carles Gil. He’s just so smooth, and he can do anything with the ball.
Tips on growing a mullet?
Embrace the awkward phase. You gotta grow out your hair up to the back of your neck, almost touching your shoulders. Then you have to go really short on the sides. It’s the only way to do it. Also, don’t be afraid to throw in a little hair dye.
Photography by Peter Bonilla
