Tag Archives: philadelphia stars

NFL, usfl

Johnson, Mike (LB) (2)

Fleer 1990, #50
Pacific 1991, #79
Pro Set 1990, #347 PB
Action Packed 1991, #43
Pro Set 1991, #40

CARDS: Pro Set 1991, Action Packed 1991, Pacific 1991, Fleer 1990, Pro Set 1990 Pro Bowl
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/7 RECEIVED: 5/31 (24 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Almost immediately after I got Mike’s autograph a few years ago, I found his Pro Set Pro Bowl card and his Fleer 90. The Fleer card is really awesome. Again, like many of those cards from back when the Browns played in their old stadium (before the original franchise fled to Baltimore,) it’s an old school treat to see dirt on players pants. Otherwise, his Pro Bowl card- ironically the only time he’d appear in a Pro Bowl, is really nice as well. Too bad both his Pro Set ’91 and Action Packed ’91 are near mirror image photos.

NFL, usfl

Mora, Jim (E.)

Pro Set 1992, #261
Pro Set 1990, #221
Pro Set 1989, #278

CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Pro Set 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 3/22/22 RECEIVED: 4/15/22 (24 DAYS)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jim Mora played college ball (TE) at Occidental, graduating in 1957.
  • Went into coaching at his Alma Mater in 1960 as a positional coach, later being promoted to head coach in 1964.
  • Earned a Master’s in Education in ’67 and promptly moved to Stanford, after compiling an 18-9 record.
  • After a year with The Cardinal as LB coach, joined the staff at Colorado filling multiple defensive positional coaching assignments, working there through 1973.
  • Spent a year at UCLA in ’74- then joined Washington’s staff as a DC in 1975.
  • In 1978, Jim made the jump to the pros, working with the Seattle Seahawks as a defensive line coach through 1981, and then in ’82 with the Patriots in the same capacity.
  • 1983 would be the first of many bellwether years for Mora, as he’d ascend to head coach, taking over for the Philadelphia/ Baltimore Stars in the USFL.
  • His teams would go 48-13-1, appearing in 3 USFL championship games, winning 2.
  • In 1985, Mora took over the perennially beleaguered New Orleans Saints, turning the moribund franchise around.
  • By 1987, he led the Saints to new levels of respectability, posting a 12-3 record and earning the franchise’s first playoff berth.
  • Team won a franchise best (at the time) 9 games straight.
  • A 10-6 record in 1988 disappointingly didn’t lead the Saints back to the playoffs, after they lost out on tie breakers to the Los Angeles Rams.
  • The NFC West was incredibly competitive at the time, and after a 9-7 record in 1989, the Saints again found themselves on the outside looking in.
  • 1990 saw the Saints break through to the playoffs again and the following season, New Orleans won the division outright for the first time in the franchise’s history.
  • In each post season appearance, the Saints were bounced in the first round of the playoffs.
  • Mora coached with the Saints through 1996, resigning about midway through a very difficult season.
  • After a year working as a commentator for NBC, Jim heard the siren’s call to return to coaching, taking over as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 1998.
  • In 1999, guided the franchise to the largest turnaround in NFL history, going from 3-13 to 13-3.
  • Refusing to fire some of his staff to appease management, Mora was terminated after the 2001 season.
  • Mora since that point has become an on air personality for the NFL Network and also did some work in radio as well.

ACCOLADES:

  • New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
  • NFL Coach of the Year 1987
  • Occidental Athletics Hall of Fame

NOTES:

Jim’s also known for some quality soundbites up there with guys like Bill Parcells. An intense guy. I was sure he’s signed, “Playoffs? Playoffs?”, Too many times to count, so I felt just asking for his autograph on these three cards was a mercy bullet.

I loved Jim’s coaching style. Albeit it was a bit conservative- well really conservative up there with ‘Martyball’, he favored strong running games supported by nasty defenses. He was instrumental in convincing defensive stars to sign with the Saints from the USFL after its dissolution.

When the Texans got rid of Dom Capers, Jim was on my shortlist to replace him alongside Marty at the time, and I wondered why neither was interviewed, because they had a habit of quickly returning and rebuilding teams into a level of unprecedented… respectability. While he didn’t manage to get his NFL teams over the hump, I always felt he was a great sandbox team builder and coach. I would’ve loved to see him come out on top.

Jim has a decent coaching tree that includes branches Dom Capers, Vince Fangio, Bruce Arians, Jim Haslett and his son Jim Mora Jr.

Loved the 1992 card of Jim. Great lighting and profile shot. Takes the cake easy. The TM on the back of the card next to the NFL shield is missing. It’s an UER, and worthless. The ’90 entry had some variants that all based on black or white type for his profile on the back. Also no big deal there.

USFL

WLTPCT
41121.769

NFL

WLTPCT
1251060.541
NFL, usfl

Johnson, Mike (LB)

Cards: Score 1990, Fleer Ultra 1991, Action Packed 1990, ProSet 1990, Score 1991
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home
Sent: 10/20   Received: 11/9     (20 days) 

Despite playing alongside future defensive hall of famer Bruce Smith at Virginia Tech, linebacker Mike Johnson ended up in the upstart USFL playing for the Philadelphia Stars (1984) and the Baltimore Stars (1985). NFL teams took notice, and after finishing a stellar career in the USFL, Mike was selected in the USFL player dispersal draft with the 19th pick. Mike joined a host of other USFL castaways (Mack, Minnefield, and McNeil) on the Browns, helping solidify the nucleus of a powerful playoff opponent. 

Johnson was a rare talent. A versatile, durable inside linebacker, who could cover runningbacks and tight ends in the flat in Cleveland’s defensive alignment. Mike earned two Pro Bowl appearances in 1989 and 1990 both as a middle linebacker. During the 1990 season he’d record a 64 yard interception return against the Chargers (Billy Joe Tolliver).  In 7 of his 10 years in the NFL, Mike recorded over 100 tackles, and 6 of those, he’d manage over 130. Johnson’s best season came in 1993 when he pulled down 181 ball carriers. 

In 1994 Mike was allowed to depart for Detroit where he finished his career in 1995. Rejuvenated, he’d start 32 of 32 games and have 250 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions for 71 yards and a TD.

Mike Johnson is the Browns 1980s TTM version of Ernest Givins! 

-Deadhorse

A sure friend to the TTM community, Mike’s responses are of legend. He takes the time to respond to letters that ask questions, signs everything and includes extras. I only dropped 4 cards in, but he included an extra two for my trouble, giving me an extra signed ProSet 1990 and including the Fleer Ultra 1991 card. 

I was surprised that I couldn’t find Mike’s Pro Bowl 1990 card, but whatever- I was still happy to get this bevvy of cards signed. Both his Score cards and his ProSet base cards are very nice action images. His Fleer Ultra 1991 leaves a lot to be desired. I really hated this set from a design standpoint. It was just lazy, and his silhouette is partially obscured by a Bills player’s butt. Action Packed took what they could get sometimes, even if the action shot was from behind (as is the case with Johnny Holland and Mark Carrier’s (S) cards- respectively). I wasn’t really a fan of it, but since I had gotten this card in every other pack of Action Packed that I first bought for a while there, it made sense to send one up to see if I could get it autographed.  

USFLTACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
N/A5.5N/A22914.51N/A
NFLTACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDNFL
144/125122414.5261321716.6264t