Card: Pro Set 1992 Acquired: TTM 2021, C/o Home Sent: 8/4 Received: 8/23 (19 days)
Played QB at USC seeing backup duty in 1967-68 throwing for 108 yards and a TD.
Selected by the St Louis Cardinals in the 8th round of the 1969 NFL Draft and later saw time in the camp of the New York Jets.
Went into coaching in 1971, reaching the college ranks in 1981 at San Fransisco State as a QB coach and OC.
Quickly moved to BYU in 1982 as QB Coach tutoring Steve Young.
Worked with the 49ers from 1986-89 under Bill Walsh, as a QB Coach and later as an OC, tutoring both Joe Montana and Steve Young.
Won two Super Bowls during that period in ’89 and ’91.
Offense was ranked #1 in 1989 and the ’91 team’s 55-10 shellacking of the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV remains the highest points scored by one team.
Joined the Packers in 1992, rebuilding storied franchise into perennial powerhouse, molding future HOFer Brett Favre.
Appeared in two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots.
Signed on as head coach and GM of the Seahawks in 1998 coaching Matt Hasselbeck, making an additional Super Bowl appearance (XL).
Resigned after the 2008 season.
Spent 2009 to 2012 as GM of the Cleveland Browns.
ACCOLADES:
Seahawks Ring of Honor 2021
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
WA Sports Hall of Fame
NOTES:
Mike Holmgren didn’t sign for a while, even skipping out on signing this rookie card from what I understand, even when he did sign. He started back up again, and I couldn’t help but ask him to toss in a play as well. I was very happy to get him on both of these items.
He’s been denied the HOF for some reason a few times. I think he’s due to be inducted with a solid resume, and an incredibly heavy coaching tree branching off of him that includes a lot of current names such as Andy Reid.
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.
