Brian Johnson (American football coach)

Last updated

Brian Johnson
Washington Commanders
Position:Assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1987-02-16) February 16, 1987 (age 37)
Barrett Station, Texas, U.S.
Career information
High school: Robert E. Lee (Baytown, Texas)
College: Utah
Undrafted: 2009
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
  • Utah (2010–2011)
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Utah (2012–2013)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Mississippi State (2014–2016)
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Houston (2017)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Florida (2018–2019)
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Florida (2020)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2021–2022)
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2023)
    Offensive coordinator
  • Washington Commanders (2024–present)
    Assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator
Career highlights and awards
As player
Coaching stats at PFR

Brian Delance Johnson (born February 16, 1987) is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the assistant head coach and offensive pass game coordinator for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He has been an offensive coordinator for Utah, Houston, and Florida of the NCAA and the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. Johnson played college football at Utah and was drafted by the New York Sentinels in the UFL Premiere Season Draft in 2009.

Contents

Early life and high school

Johnson was born on February 16, 1987, in Barrett Station, Texas. He attended Robert E. Lee High School, where he lettered in football and basketball. During his senior year in 2003, in which he took over starting quarterback duties from Drew Tate, Johnson passed for 2,900 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushed for 540 yards with 12 touchdowns. Johnson was named the district's Most Valuable Player, first-team all-district, and second-team all-state. [1] After graduating early, Johnson was a two-star recruit coming out of high school, not being ranked among the top quarterback prospects of his class. [2] [3] Johnson was recruited by Utah, Illinois and Louisiana Tech.

Playing career

College

Johnson played college football for the Utah Utes. As a true freshman in 2004, Johnson saw action in ten games as back-up to Heisman Trophy finalist Alex Smith. He passed for a touchdown and ran for another, while he compiled a 129.7 passer rating. [1]

In 2005, Johnson took over as starting quarterback, where he remained for the first ten games until a season-ending knee injury against New Mexico on November 12. He finished the season with 2,892 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. Against Wyoming, he was named the Mountain West Conference (MWC) Offensive Player of the Week for completing 32-of-45 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 67 yards and a touchdown. He was first in the MWC and fourth nationwide in total offensive yards with an average 337.0 yards per game, and second in the MWC in passing yardage with 289.2 yards per game. The Utes' record with Johnson at quarterback in 2005 was 5–5, before ultimately finishing the season 7–5. [1]

After undergoing surgery on December 1, 2005, to correct his knee injury, Johnson redshirted his third year in order to convalesce during the 2006 season. [1] In 2007, Johnson returned to see action in 11 games, ten of which he started. In the first game of the season against Oregon State, he injured his shoulder and subsequently missed two following games. He finished the season with 2,636 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. In the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl against Navy, Johnson completed 20-of-25 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown, while he rushed for 69 yards and one touchdown. For his performance, he was named the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl's Most Valuable Player. [1]

In 2008, Johnson returned for his final season as the Utes' starting quarterback. In the first game against Rich Rodriguez's Michigan, he threw for 305 yards in Utah's 25–23 win. They went on to compile wins against Air Force, Oregon State (who defeated USC the previous week), and twelfth-ranked TCU, a team that only had one other loss in the season (against future BCS Championship Game participant second-ranked Oklahoma.) In their final regular season game against fourteenth-ranked BYU, Johnson threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns in a 48–24 victory. Utah's performance secured the sixth rank in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) poll, and they became the only BCS non-AQ conference team to secure a berth in a BCS game (the 2009 Sugar Bowl, against Southeastern Conference (SEC) Western Division champions Alabama.)

In the Sugar Bowl, Johnson led seventh-ranked Utah with 336 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in a 31–17 surprise upset over fourth-ranked Alabama. For his performance, Johnson was named the 2009 Sugar Bowl's Most Outstanding Player. Utah finished the season as the only undefeated team, with a 13–0 record. [4] [5] Johnson was featured as the cover athlete of the PlayStation 3 edition of the NCAA Football 10 video game. [6]

Johnson's record as a starting quarterback in his career at Utah was 26–7, which made him the winningest quarterback in school history. [7]

College statistics

PassingRushing
SeasonGPRatingCompAttPctYdsTDINTSackAttYdsTD
2004 7124.4213206512611221921
2005 10151.0121033063.62892187261524788
2006 Did not play due to injury
2007 11129.6118127266.51848111021851502 [8]
2008 13149.4326839468.02972279261081281 [8]
Career41138.626721,01666.147,83857277536684812

Professional

After going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft, he was invited to the Green Bay Packers' rookie mini-camp, along with Tulsa quarterback David Johnson. [9] He was not signed by an NFL team, but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League were reportedly interested in him. [10]

Johnson was selected in the inaugural United Football League (UFL) draft by the New York Sentinels. [11] Johnson had said at UFL tryouts, "It's a chance to keep playing football ... You have to take every opportunity you can get. You have to keep knocking on doors. You have to show them you can compete, that you have the physical tools they want." [12] He signed with the team on August 5, 2009, but was released on September 28.

Coaching career

Utah

In January 2010, at 22 years of age, Johnson was named the quarterbacks coach at the University of Utah by head coach Kyle Whittingham. [7] On February 2, 2012, two weeks before his 25th birthday, Johnson was named offensive coordinator at Utah by Whittingham. [13]

Mississippi State

On February 10, 2014, Johnson was named as the quarterbacks coach at Mississippi State, reuniting him with coach Dan Mullen. Mullen had offered him a scholarship to sign with Utah during Urban Meyer's tenure as the Utes' head coach.

Houston

On December 27, 2016, Johnson was hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Houston. [14]

Florida

On December 10, 2017, Johnson was hired as the quarterbacks coach at the University of Florida, once again reuniting with head coach Dan Mullen. [15] Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2020, making him the first African-American offensive coordinator in the team's history. [16]

Philadelphia Eagles

On January 27, 2021, Johnson was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as their quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach under head coach Nick Sirianni. Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023, replacing Shane Steichen who departed to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. [17] Johnson's playcalling was criticized throughout the season, with him being fired following the season. [18] [19]

Washington Commanders

On February 15, 2024, Johnson was hired by the Washington Commanders as their assistant head coach and offensive pass game coordinator under head coach Dan Quinn. [20]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Player Bio Archived August 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine , University of Utah Utes football official website, retrieved January 3, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "Recruiting Football Team News, 247Sports".
  4. ↑ Utah secures perfect season with Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, ESPN, January 2, 2009, retrieved January 3, 2009.
  5. ↑ ESPN Stats, ESPN, retrieved January 3, 2009.
  6. ↑ EA Announces Four NCAA Football 10 Cover Athletes, Electronic Arts, April 23, 2009.
  7. 1 2 "Brian Johnson Joins Utah Football Staff". University of Utah . Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  8. 1 2 ESPN College football statistics
  9. ↑ Packers invite two QBs to rookie camp [ permanent dead link ], Green Bay Press-Gazette , April 27, 2009.
  10. ↑ Bombers' brass trying to play by the numbers in makeover, Winnipeg Free Press , May 20, 2009.
  11. ↑ Losman ticketed for UFL, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Review-Journal , June 19, 2009.
  12. ↑ UFL tryouts: The place where dreams still live, Las Vegas Review-Journal , June 15, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Brian Johnson Named Offensive Coordinator - the Official Athletic Site of the University of Utah". Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  14. ↑ "UH football hires Brian Johnson as offensive coordinator". December 27, 2016.
  15. ↑ Mullen Announces Hiring of Brian Johnson to Coaching Staff
  16. ↑ Gators QBs coach Brian Johnson makes UF history as new offensive coordinator
  17. ↑ Spadaro, Dave (February 28, 2023). "Eagles name Brian Johnson offensive coordinator". Philadelphia Eagles . Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  18. ↑ Chassen, Alexis (December 20, 2023). "Nick Sirianni said criticism over the offense should be directed at him, not Brian Johnson". Bleeding Green Nation. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  19. ↑ Rapp, Timothy (December 12, 2023). "Eagles' Nick Sirianni Doesn't Plan to Strip OC Brian Johnson of Play-Calling Duties". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Washington Commanders announce coaching staff". Washington Commanders. February 15, 2024.
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