View source for Jimmy Johnson (cornerback)

{{Short description|American football player (1938–2024)}}
{{about|the American football cornerback|other people named Jimmy Johnson|Jimmy Johnson (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Jimmy Johnson
| image         = Jimmy Johnson signs autographs in Jan 2014.jpg
| alt           =
| caption       = Johnson in 2014
| number        = 37
| position      = [[Cornerback]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1938|3|31}}
| birth_place   = [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2024|5|8|1938|3|31}}
| death_place   = [[San Francisco Bay Area|San Francisco Bay Area, California]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 2
| weight_lb     = 187
| high_school   = [[Kingsburg High School|Kingsburg]] <br> ([[Kingsburg, California]])
| college       = [[Santa Monica Corsairs football|Santa Monica]] (1957–1958) <br> [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]] (1959–1960)
| draftyear     = 1961
| draftround    = 1
| draftpick     = 6
| afldraftyear  = 1961
| afldraftround = 4
| afldraftpick  = 32
| pastteams     = * [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|1961|1976}})
| highlights    = * 4× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1969 All-Pro Team|1969]]–[[1972 All-Pro Team|1972]])
* 4× Second-team All-Pro ([[1964 All-Pro Team|1964]]–[[1966 All-Pro Team|1966]], [[1968 All-Pro Team|1968]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1970 Pro Bowl|1969]]–[[1973 Pro Bowl|1972]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]])
* [[George Halas Award]] (1972)
* [[NFL 1970s All-Decade Team]]
* [[San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame]]
* [[List of San Francisco 49ers retired numbers|San Francisco 49ers No. 37]] retired
| statlabel1    = Games played
| statvalue1    = 213
| statlabel2    = [[Starting lineup|Starts]]
| statvalue2    = 205
| statlabel3    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue3    = 47
| statlabel4    = Interception yards
| statvalue4    = 615
| statlabel5    = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue5    = 7
| statlabel6    = [[Safety (gridiron football score)|Safeties]]
| statvalue6    = 1
| statlabel7    = Touchdowns
| statvalue7    = 6
| pfr           = J/JohnJi01
| HOF           = jimmy-johnson 
}}

'''James Earl Johnson''' (March 31, 1938 – May 8, 2024) was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[cornerback]] who played for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1961 to 1976. He was named to the first-team on the [[NFL 1970s All-Decade Team]], and in 1994, he was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].

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]] for the [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA Bruins]] and was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the [[1961 NFL draft]].

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 Bowl]]s. His jersey (No. 37) was [[retired number|retired]] by the 49ers in 1977.

==Early life==
Johnson was born on March 31, 1938, in [[Dallas]].<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Jimmy Johnson Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 9, 2017|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnJi01.htm}}</ref> His family moved to central California when Johnson was a boy. He attended [[Kingsburg High School]] in [[Kingsburg, California|Kingsburg]] in [[Fresno County, California|Fresno County]].<ref name=Fresno/><ref name=TSN>{{cite news|title=They Shall Not Pass-That's Johnson's Credo|newspaper=The Sporting News|date=November 21, 1970}}</ref>

Johnson's older brother [[Rafer Johnson|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]].<ref name=Fresno/><ref name=TSN/>

==College career==
Johnson first attended the [[Santa Monica College]], playing for the [[Santa Monica Corsairs football]] team in 1957 and 1958.<ref>{{cite web|title=Santa Monica College a Football Factory?|url=https://www.smccorsairs.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/201506219mm5og|website=smccorsairs|date=June 21, 2015|access-date=June 28, 2024}}</ref> He then transferred to the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] and played for the [[UCLA Bruins football]] team as a [[Wingback (American football)|wingback]] and [[cornerback]].<ref name=PFHOF/> He totaled 812 yards from scrimmage in 1959 and 1960.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jim Johnson College Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=April 9, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jim-johnson-1.html}}</ref> Johnson also competed in track at UCLA, he won the NCAA [[110 metres hurdles|110-meter hurdles]] championship and was named an All-American in track and field.<ref name=Fresno/>

While a student at UCLA, Johnson joined Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity, where he is recognized as a prominent alumni brother.<ref>{{cite web|title= Famous Pilams|publisher=Pi Lambda Phi Fraternal Organization| url=https://www.pilambdaphi.org/about/famous-pilams/}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Johnson was selected by the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in the first round with the sixth overall pick of the [[1961 NFL draft]], and by the [[San Diego Chargers]] in the fourth round with the 32nd overall pick of the [[1961 AFL draft]].<ref name=PFR/> He signed with the 49ers in June 1961.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kilmer, Johnson Sign 49er Pacts|newspaper=Reno Gazette-Journal|date=June 14, 1961|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10194902/kilmer_johnson_sign_49er_pacts/}}</ref> As a rookie, Johnson appeared in 12 games for the [[1961 San Francisco 49ers season|1961 49ers]], played at the cornerback position, and intercepted five passes for a career-high 116 return yards. He became a [[wide receiver|flanker]] in 1962 and caught 34 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns. His most productive game as a flanker came against the [[1962 Detroit Lions season|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 [[1962 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]], which at the time was the longest scoring pass in 49ers history.<ref>{{cite news|title=49ers Snap Chicago Jinx On Record Scoring Pass|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10204016/49ers_snap_chicago_jinx_on_record/|access-date=April 11, 2017|work=Daily Independent Journal|agency=United Press International|date=October 15, 1962|page=10|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Johnson returned to defense in 1963 and played principally at cornerback for the rest of his career. He remained with the 49ers for 16 years through the 1976 season, appearing in 213 NFL games.<ref name=PFR/>

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 ([[1970 Pro Bowl|1969]]–[[1973 Pro Bowl|1972]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]]).<ref name=PFR/> 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."<ref name=PFHOF>{{cite web|title=Jimmy Johnson Biography|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|access-date=April 9, 2017|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/players/jimmy-johnson/biography/}}</ref>

==Death==
Johnson died on May 8, 2024, aged 86, in [[California]]'s [[San Francisco Bay Area]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Inman |first1=Cam |title=Jimmy Johnson, legendary 49ers cornerback and Hall of Famer, dies at 86 |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/09/jimmy-johnson-49ers-legendary-cornerback-and-hall-of-famer-dies-at-86/ |access-date=May 9, 2024 |publisher=The Mercury News |date=May 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Grant |title=49ers legend Jimmy Johnson dies at 86; Hall of Fame corner spent all 16 NFL seasons in San Francisco |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/49ers-legend-jimmy-johnson-dies-at-86-hall-of-fame-corner-spent-all-16-nfl-seasons-in-san-francisco |website=NFL.com |access-date=May 11, 2024 |date=May 9, 2024}}</ref>

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

* In 1977, the 49ers retired Johnson's jersey (No. 37) during halftime of a Monday night game dubbed "Jimmy Johnson Night at Candlestick Park."<ref>{{cite news|title=49ers honor Jimmy Johnson this evening|newspaper=Ukiah Daily Journal|date=December 12, 1977|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10195479/49ers_honor_jimmy_johnson_this_evening/}}</ref>
* In 1978, Johnson was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.<ref name=Fresno>{{cite web|title=1978 Inductees|publisher=Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame|access-date=April 9, 2017|url=http://www.fresnoahof.org/1978-past-inductees|archive-date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412061736/http://www.fresnoahof.org/1978-past-inductees|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* In 1980, Johnson and [[Willie Brown (American football)|Willie Brown]] were named the first-string cornerbacks on the [[NFL 1970s All-Decade Team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Shula, Guy, O.J. on All-Decade team|newspaper=The Akron Beacon-Journal|date=August 3, 1980|page=C12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10195382/shula_guy_oj_on_alldecade_team/}}</ref>
* In 1990, Johnson was inducted into the [[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bashof.org/Hall_of_Fame_1990.html |title=1990 |work=Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=November 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616062620/http://www.bashof.org/Hall_of_Fame_1990.html |archive-date=June 16, 2011 }}</ref>
* In 1992, Johnson was inducted into the [[UCLA Bruins#UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame|UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Names in the News|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=April 21, 1992|page=C8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10195825/names_in_the_news/}}</ref>
* In 1994, he was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorsett spearheads new picks for Hall|newspaper=Daily Press (VA)|date=January 30, 1994|page=5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10195202/dorsett_spearheads_new_picks_for_hall/}}</ref>
* In 2009, he was one of the charter inductees into the [[San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|title=49ers Announce Edward DeBartolo Sr. 49ers Hall of Fame|url=http://www.49ers.com/news/article-1/49ers-Announce-Edward-DeBartolo-Sr-49ers-Hall-of-Fame/ce343051-9d0a-102c-ae14-8cc2288110cb|publisher=San Francisco 49ers|access-date=September 30, 2016|date=May 12, 2009}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.jimmyjohnson37.com Jimmy Johnson's personal web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930040548/http://www.jimmyjohnson37.com/ |date=September 30, 2007 }}
* {{Profootballhof|jimmy-johnson}}

{{1961 NFL Draft}}
{{49ersFirstPick}}
{{49ers1961DraftPicks}}
{{San Diego Chargers 1961 draft navbox}}
{{NFL1970s}}
{{49ers Retired Numbers}}
{{San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame}}
{{1994 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Jimmy}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:Santa Monica Corsairs football players]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins football players]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:NFL players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Dallas]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins men's track and field athletes]]