Jimmy Johnson (cornerback)

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Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson signs autographs in Jan 2014.jpg
Johnson in 2014
No. 37
Position: Cornerback, safety, wide receiver
Personal information
Born:(1938-03-31)March 31, 1938
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died:May 8, 2024(2024-05-08) (aged 86)
Bay Area, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school: Kingsburg (Kingsburg, California)
College: UCLA
NFL draft: 1961  / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:47
Interception yards:615
Interception return TDs:2
Receptions:40
Receiving yards:690
Receiving touchdowns:4
Player stats at PFR

James Earl Johnson (March 31, 1938 – May 8, 2024) was an American professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1961 to 1976. In 1980, he was named as a first-string cornerback on the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, and in 1994, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Contents

Johnson was born in Dallas and raised in Kingsburg, California. He was the younger brother of Rafer Johnson, winner of the decathlon gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Johnson played college football and ran track at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He won the NCAA 110-meter hurdles championship and was named an All-American in track and field.

Johnson was selected by San Francisco with the sixth overall pick in the 1961 NFL draft. He was selected four times as a first-team All-Pro and played in five Pro Bowls. His jersey (No. 37) was retired by the 49ers in 1977.

Early life

Johnson was born on March 31, 1938, in Dallas. [1] His family moved to central California when Johnson was a boy. He attended Kingsburg High School in Kingsburg in Fresno County. [2] [3]

Johnson's older brother Rafer preceded him as a multi-sport star at Kingsburg High School and UCLA, ultimately winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Summer Olympics. [2] [3]

College career

Johnson attended UCLA and played for the UCLA Bruins football team as a wingback and defensive back. [4] He totaled 812 yards from scrimmage in 1959 and 1960. [5] Johnson also competed in track at UCLA, won the NCAA 110-meter hurdles championship, and was named an All-American in track and field. [2]

While a student at UCLA, Johnson joined Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity, where he is recognized as a prominent alumni brother. [6]

Professional career

Johnson was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the 1961 NFL draft and by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round (31st overall pick) of the 1961 AFL Draft. [1] He signed with the 49ers in June 1961. [7] As a rookie, Johnson appeared in 12 games for the 1961 49ers, played at the cornerback position, and intercepted five passes for a career-high 116 return yards. He became a wide receiver in 1962 and caught 34 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns. His most productive game as a wide receiver came against the Detroit Lions, in which he caught 11 passes for 181 yards. Earlier that season, he caught a game-winning 80-yard touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears, which at the time was the longest scoring pass in 49ers history. [8] Johnson returned to defense in 1963 and played principally at safety and cornerback for the rest of his career. He remained with the 49ers for 16 years through the 1976 season, appearing in 213 NFL games. [1]

During his 16 years in the NFL, Johnson intercepted 47 passes for 615 return yards and two touchdowns in his NFL career. He was selected four times as a first-team All-Pro: 1969 (AP, UPI), 1970 (AP, NEA, Pro Football Writers, Pro Football Weekly), 1971 (AP, NEA, Pro Football Writers, Pro Football Weekly), and 1972 (AP, NEA, Pro Football Writers, Pro Football Weekly). He was also selected to play in five Pro Bowls (1969–1972, 1974). [1] According to his biography at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Johnson is regarded as "one of the best man-to-man defenders in history." [4]

Death

Johnson died on May 8, 2024, at age 86. [9] [10]

Honors

Johnson received numerous honors for his football career, including the following:

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jimmy Johnson Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "1978 Inductees". Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "They Shall Not Pass-That's Johnson's Credo". The Sporting News. November 21, 1970.
  4. 1 2 "Jimmy Johnson Biography". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Jim Johnson College Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Famous Pilams". Pi Lambda Phi Fraternal Organization.
  7. ↑ "Kilmer, Johnson Sign 49er Pacts". Reno Gazette-Journal. June 14, 1961. p. 20.
  8. ↑ "49ers Snap Chicago Jinx On Record Scoring Pass". Daily Independent Journal. United Press International. October 15, 1962. p. 10. Retrieved April 11, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Inman, Cam (May 9, 2024). "Jimmy Johnson, legendary 49ers cornerback and Hall of Famer, dies at 86". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Gordon, Grant (May 9, 2024). "49ers legend Jimmy Johnson dies at 86; Hall of Fame corner spent all 16 NFL seasons in San Francisco". NFL.com. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  11. ↑ "49ers honor Jimmy Johnson this evening". Ukiah Daily Journal. December 12, 1977. p. 6.
  12. ↑ "Shula, Guy, O.J. on All-Decade team". The Akron Beacon-Journal. August 3, 1980. p. C12.
  13. ↑ "1990". Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. April 21, 1992. p. C8.
  15. ↑ "Dorsett spearheads new picks for Hall". Daily Press (VA). January 30, 1994. p. 5.
  16. ↑ "49ers Announce Edward DeBartolo Sr. 49ers Hall of Fame". San Francisco 49ers. May 12, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
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