Had respectable college years from 2004-06, but burst onto the scene with titanic 07 effort rushing for 2127 yards and 23 TDs on 361 carries playing for Tulane.
First round selection of the Chicago Bears in 2008, almost immediately became a Fantasy Football darling for the next 7 additional seasons.
Rushed for 1238 yards and 8 TDs in rookie year, while catching 63 passes for 477 yards and 4 TDs.
In every year with Bears, never failed to have less than 1250 yards from scrimmage.
Rushed for over 1000 yards 5 times, while narrowly missing the mark two more additional times.
Best season came arguably in 2013, rushing for 1339 yards and 9 TDs on 289 carries, while also catching 74 passes for 594 yards.
Caught a career high 101 passes for 808 yards during following season in 2014.
Signed with Jets in 2016, and still managed to post 1076 total yards from scrimmage (813 rushing, 263 receiving).
Retired after the 2017 season and signed a one day contract in 2018 to retire a Bear.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 2011, 13
2008 NFL All-Rookie Team
100 Greatest Chicago Bears of All-Time
A superior athlete and frequently the best player on the field- among the best in a long line of Bears runningbacks.
-Bears Chairman George McCaskey
NOTES:
Well as COVID began to break out across the country and people started losing jobs EBay started lighting up with great values and snipes I could have for pennies. This was probably the best steal I got. Crazy how long ago it all seems.
I remember my company (at the time) telling us that we were going to work from home the next two weeks. We all sort of took it in stride because it was during Spring Break, so it felt good to get out of the office and WFH.
I was keeping a lid on it though. I got out early and went and got my kid from daycare and informed them we wouldn’t be back until this cleared up… maybe… 3 months or so right? We rushed all over town stopping at multiple stores. Things were getting cleared out but I was piecemealing it together so we could bunk down for 2 weeks.
Then the weeks and months went by. COVID didn’t get better. It got worse. At first we were really fine with it. We saved a ton of money and financially I got myself into a better place, but as time drug on, eventually things got back to a new normal- in its own, strange way.
Started all 8 games for SA, posting 16 total tackles and 2 sacks.
After league ceased operations, returned to Penn State and as of 2022 is a graduate assistant.
NOTES:
As a Commanders fan I was happy to get Deion’s autograph back- sort of… I mean, is this a crayon or a faded Vis-A-Vis he signed with? Just terrible. I may send to him again to cover this one and hopefully he will sign it better.
Converted to RB in 1988, and had best year for the Spartans, racking up 1219 yards and 15 TDs on 233 carries.
Also had 61 receptions for 668 yards and 4 TDs, to total out 1887 yards from scrimmage.
Was a 7th round selection of the Phoenix Cardinals.
Went on to post 926 yards and 5 TDs (234 carries), and 25 receptions for 241 yards in 1990.
Posted 666 yards in 1991 and 734 in 1992.
Traded to the New York Jets in 1993, so the Cardinals could move up one spot and select Garrison Hearst.
Continued to post solid numbers, rushing for 821 yards in 1993, and a career high 67 receptions for 641 yards.
In 1994 had a career high 931 yards rushing and 240 carries and a 90 yard long.
After being cut in ’95, joined the 49ers in 1996, but aggravated a back injury on the first day of camp and never saw the field again.
ACCOLADES:
1990 Pro Bowl
1990 All Rookie Team
NOTES:
The 1990 draft rookies besides Emmitt Smith held some intriguing competition that all seemed to be felled by injury. Blair Thomas and Johnny Johnson each provided early competition for Smith- with Johnson actually garnering All Rookie Honors from the Pro Football Writers Association. Johnny actually only finished a few yards behind Smith in rushing, and 2 yards ahead of Emmitt in total yards in 1990. After that Emmitt quickly ran away with things, but Johnson just kept chugging, even if it was for some poor teams. in 1993 despite not rushing or receiving for over 1,000 yards, Johnson finished second in the AFC in total yards from scrimmage and was named Jets MVP for the year.
I’ve never been able to track down Johnny. I’ve sorta patchworked my way into some autographs of his but still need him on at least one more set need to close him out.
Johnny also makes his debut appearance on the game Tecmo Super Bowl as a pretty solid back for the Cards.
RUSH
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
1046
4078
3.9
21
90t
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
177
1513
8.5
5
51t
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
