Ken Johnson (defensive end, born 1947)

Last updated
Ken Johnson
No. 80
Position: Defensive end / Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1947-02-12) February 12, 1947 (age 75)
Anderson, Indiana
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school: Anderson (IN)
College: Indiana
Undrafted: 1970
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:79
Games started:36
Fumble recoveries:2
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Ralph Kenneth Johnson (born February 12, 1947) is a former professional American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college basketball at Indiana University.

Contents

Early years

Johnson had to repeat the fifth grade because of low grades and was cut from both his junior high school football and basketball teams. He would eventually develop into a top athlete at Anderson High School, where he received All-State and All-American honors in both sports as a senior (in football as an End). [1]

He accepted a basketball scholarship from Indiana University, to play under coach Lou Watson. As a sophomore, he was a backup, averaging 5.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

As a junior, he was named the starter at center, averaging 18.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, while being voted team MVP. As a senior, he began to experiment with alcohol and drugs, which although it was speculated on the media that it affected his play on the court, he would repeat as the team MVP and received All-Big Ten honors, after averaging 14.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Johnson was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 10th round of 1970 NBA draft, after dropping because of character concerns. Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball coach Bob Knight recommended Johnson to vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt, who retrospectively said "Our mistake with Johnson was that we tried to make him into an offensive tackle. The Bengals [who later claimed Johnson on waivers from the Cowboys] tried him on the defensive line. That was where he belonged". [2]

In 1970, although he never played a down of college football, after a successful tryout he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, with the intention of playing him at tight end. He followed on the foot steps of Cornell Green, Peter Gent and Percy Howard, as basketball players that were converted by the Cowboys to play professional football. [3] He was eventually moved to offensive tackle and waived before the start of the season on September 2. [4]

Cincinnati Bengals

On September 2, 1970, Johnson was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals, with the intention of playing him at defensive end. [5] He was released on September 7 and signed to the taxi squad the next day. [6] [7]

In 1971, he made the team as a backup defensive lineman, playing both as a defensive tackle and defensive end. [8] In 1972, he appeared in 11 games, starting 3 of them in place of injured players.

In 1974, he was named the starter at left defensive end. In 1976, the Bengals traded for Coy Bacon, who played at a Pro Bowl level and relegated Johnson back into a reserve role.

In 1977, he was lost for the season after injuring his knee in the 10th game against the Miami Dolphins. He was released on August 29, 1978. [9]

Personal life

Johnson became an assistant pastor at the Greater Atlanta Healing Temple. He is also a motivational speaker for the Sports World Ministries. In 1977, he nearly died when his vehicle was hit and dragged by a train for more than 100 yards.

Related Research Articles

Leonard Davis (American football) American football player (born 1978)

Leonard Barnett Davis is an American former college and professional football player who was an offensive lineman for twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. Davis was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the second pick overall of the 2001 NFL Draft, and also played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.

Rob Christopher Petitti is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

Ross Tucker American football player and sports broadcaster (born 1979)

Ross Finch Tucker is a former American football offensive lineman and current sports broadcaster. Tucker was an All-Ivy League offensive lineman at Princeton University, then played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Tucker retired as a player after suffering a neck injury during the 2007 season. He works for CBS Sports, the Philadelphia Eagles, Westwood One, and Audacy. He also hosts several podcast as part of the Ross Tucker Football Podcast network distributed via DraftKings.

Ron Christopher Stone is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Boston College.

James P. Marten is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College.

Danny Noonan (American football) American football player (born 1965)

Daniel Nicholas Noonan is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of Nebraska.

Darrick Dewayne Brownlow is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Illinois.

Don Larry Talbert is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1961 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Texas at Austin.

Matt Joyce is a former American football guard and tackle in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Richmond.

Larry Bethea was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders and Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League. He played college football at Michigan State University. He died by suicide after being identified as a suspect in two armed robberies.

Walter George "Wally" Pesuit is a former American football offensive and defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Kentucky.

Jermey Alexander Parnell is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football and basketball at Ole Miss.

Thomas Gene Randall is a former professional American football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Oilers. He played college football at Iowa State University.

Jonathan Cooper American football player (born 1990)

Jonathan Javell Cooper is a former American football guard. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals seventh overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina, where he earned All-American honors. He also spent time with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Oakland Raiders.

Xavier Sua-Filo American football player (born 1991)

Xavier Filoitumua Su'a-Filo is an American football guard who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.

Zack Martin American football player (born 1990)

Zachary Edward Martin is an American football offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted 16th overall by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has made seven Pro Bowls and been selected to seven All-Pro teams. Martin is considered one of the best guards in the NFL.

T. J. Clemmings American football player (born 1991)

Trevor Anthony "T. J." Clemmings is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at Pittsburgh. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.

Chaz Green American football player (born 1992)

Chaz Green is an American football offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida. He has also played for the New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Indianapolis Colts.

George Fant (American football) American football player (born 1992)

George Fant is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college basketball and football at Western Kentucky, and was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Starting in 2018, Fant was used as a hybrid tight end on tackle-eligible plays for Seattle.

Antonio Fleming is a former American football offensive guard in the National Football League for the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. He also was a member of the Frankfurt Galaxy and Birmingham Thunderbolts. He played college football at the University of Georgia.

References

  1. ↑ "Johnson Heads For School Of Hard Knocks At Dallas" . Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  2. ↑ "From meager beginnings to America's Team" . Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  3. ↑ Mihoces, Gary (April 20, 2005). "NFL seeks best players on the court or mat". USA Today . Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Bengal Bites" . Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Bengals Trim To 44-Man Limit" . Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Bengals Pleased As Offensive Punch Revives" . Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Dandy Fill-In" . Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Bengals cut roster to 45" . Retrieved February 19, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.