Tag Archives: daryl johnston

NFL

Johnston, Daryl “Moose”

Cards: Playoff 1992, Topps 1992, Upper Deck Legends 2011
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 9/14  Received: 10/2 (21 days)
See Also: Daryl Johnston

I used to go to training camp for the Cowboys way back when they were in Austin. On one of the first days that I was there I got Daryl Johnston on his Topps 1990 rookie card.

A few years later I got the Topps 1992 and this Playoff 1992 card. I took them both to training camp with me, but never was able to get Johnston again. I don’t know whether or not he recognized me as a regular at camp, or that the Cowboys were too big for their britches and didn’t sign anymore, but he went from being a stellar in person signer to the classic ignorer, within 2 years. Part of me didn’t blame him if that was the case. The fences at training camp were a difficult to navigate with the throngs of fans who wanted autographs. Not to mention there were a lot of kids running over to the local card shop and selling all those autographs right afterwards. 

 Needless to say it’s great to see that Johnston is a pretty good signer TTM. When I uncovered this Upper Deck Legends card recently I went ahead and shot out these cards to him.  

All of these are great cards of Daryl. Once the card companies got wind of his popularity, solid play, and the Cowboys rise to prominence again, he became a regular in most of the card sets. He has a beautiful autograph, with a solid, encapsulating loop on the ‘J’.

Johnston is not a member of the NFL concussion litigation group. He instead is an advocate of proactive brain testing for players.

NFL

Johnston, Daryl

Card: Topps 1990
Acquired: In Person 1990, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

The Cowboys made some shrewd moves during their first draft with Jimmy Johnson, drafting fullback Daryl Johnston out of Syracuse at the top of the second round in 1989. A sound and accomplished blocker and a tough inside runner with nice hands, Johnston is one of the most unsung members of the Dallas Cowboys’ dynasties of the 1990’s.

His rookie season would be impressive for a fullback. Johnston made 16 receptions including 3 touchdowns, while running for 212 yards (which would turn out to be a career high). Johnston got some due, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 1993, while making a career high 50 receptions for 372 yards, and 1994 when he made 44 receptions for 325 yards. Frequently utilized as a short yardage back, Johnston was frighteningly effective, whether it was as a receiver or rusher in the Cowboys offense.

Affectionately nicknamed “Moose” by teammate Babe Laufenberg, anytime he touched the ball you could hear fans cheer his nickname. Daryl played for the Cowboys through 1999, but as neck injuries and concussions took their toll on the selfless fullback, he’d be forced to retire.

Johnston jumped right into the broadcasting booth working both College and Pro games. Daryl has a workmanlike efficiency to his broadcasting and unlike other commentators doesn’t grate on the nerves.  

A humanitarian, Johnston has been quite active in charities- but at this time may never be considered for the statistically driven Pro Football HoF, and has yet to be inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor. Johnston is credited as being the ‘first’ fullback to be named to the Pro Bowl, as before 1993 the position didn’t exist as an electable category.

G/Gs  151/122   Rush 232     Yds 753   Avg  3.2     Td 8    Lg  18  |
Rec 294  Yds 2227   Avg 7.6     Td 14    Lg  28