View source for Ron Johnson (running back)

{{Short description|American football player (1947–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Ron Johnson
| image       = Ron Johnson vs. Navy 1967 (cropped).png
| caption     = Johnson in 1967
| position    = [[Running back]]
| number      = 30
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1947|10|17}}
| birth_place = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2018|11|10|1947|10|11}}
| death_place = [[Madison, New Jersey]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 1
| weight_lbs  = 205
| draftyear   = 1969
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 20
| high_school = [[Northwestern High School (Michigan)|Northwestern]] {{nowrap|(Detroit, Michigan)}}
| college     = [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]]
| teams       =
* [[Cleveland Browns]] (1969)
* [[New York Giants]] (1970–1975)
| highlights  =
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1970 All-Pro Team|1970]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] (1970, 1972)
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1968 College Football All-America Team|1968]])
* Second-team All-American ([[1967 College Football All-America Team|1967]])
* [[Chicago Tribune Silver Football]] (1968)
* First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1967 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1967]])
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 4,308
| statlabel2  = Rushing TDs
| statvalue2  = 40
| statlabel3  = Receptions
| statvalue3  = 213
| statlabel4  = Receiving yards
| statvalue4  = 1,977
| statlabel5  = Receiving TDs
| statvalue5  = 15
| HOF         =
| CollegeHOF  = 1889 
}}

'''Ronald Adolphis Johnson''' (October 17, 1947&nbsp;– November 10, 2018) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL).

Johnson played [[college football]] at the [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] position for the [[Michigan Wolverines football|University of Michigan]] from 1966 to 1968. He set a Michigan school record in 1967 by rushing for 270 yards in a game. In 1968, he became the first African-American to serve as the captain of a Michigan football team.  He set an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] record by rushing for 347 yards in a game and set [[Big Ten Conference]] records with 92 points scored and 1,017 rushing yards in seven conference games. He also set Michigan records with 2,524 career rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns in a season, and 139.1 rushing yards per game in 1968.

He played seven seasons in the NFL from 1969 to 1975 and became the first player in [[New York Giants]] history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, accomplishing the feat in both 1970 and 1972. He also led the NFL in rushing attempts in both 1970 and 1972.  Johnson retired as a player in 1976, was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1992, and became chairman of the [[National Football Foundation]] in 2006.  He was diagnosed with [[Alzheimer's disease]] in 2008, and died in 2018. He is the brother of 1970 American League [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting champion]] [[Alex Johnson]].

==Early years and family==
Johnson was born in [[Detroit]], Michigan, in 1947.<ref name=PFR />  His father, Arthur Johnson, having a fourth-grade education, supported his wife and his five children with his own trucking company, Johnson Trucking.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ron Johnson Key Factor Behind Johnson's Success|newspaper=Schenectady Gazette (AP story)|date=November 10, 1970|page=33|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19701110&id=TGhGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2722,2400541}}</ref><ref name=Dad />  Ron's older brother, [[Alex Johnson]], was a star baseball and football player at [[Northwestern High School (Michigan)|Northwestern High School]],<ref name=Dad /> and opted to play baseball and made his [[Major League Baseball]] debut in July 1964 when Ron was 16 years old.<ref name=BR>{{cite web|title=Alex Johnson Statistics and History|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=March 8, 2015|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsal01.shtml}}</ref>  Ron followed Alex to Northwestern High School, becoming a star baseball and football player and graduating in 1965.<ref name=Dad />

==University of Michigan==
Johnson enrolled at the [[University of Michigan]] in the fall of 1965 and played [[college football]] for the [[Michigan Wolverines football]] team from 1966 to 1968 under head coach [[Bump Elliott]]. As a sophomore in 1966, Johnson gained 44 yards on 12 carries, seeing limited playing time in a backfield that included seniors [[Carl Ward]] and [[Jim Detwiler]].<ref name=CT2>{{cite news|title=Johnson Unmoved by Little Fanfare|first=Robert|last=Markus|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 12, 1968|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/10/12/page/151/article/johnson-unmoved-by-little-fanfare}}</ref>

===1967 season===
As a junior in 1967, Johnson became the Wolverines' starting halfback, gaining 982 rushing yards on 210 carries for an average of 4.7 yards per carry.<ref name=AD /> On October 7, 1967, in his third game as a starter, Johnson eclipsed the Michigan and [[Big Ten Conference]] single-game rushing records with 270 rushing yards on 26 carries, for an average of 10.4 yards per carry, against [[Navy Midshipmen football|Navy]].<ref name=AD /><ref>{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Halls|title=M's Johnson 'Terrific' in 26-21 Loss to Navy|newspaper=The Owosso Argus-Press (AP story)|date=October 9, 1967|page=14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1978&dat=19671009&id=XWsiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2588,3870117}}</ref>  He also had 100-yard games that same year against [[Michigan State Spartans football|Michigan State]] (107 yards on 24 carries), [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota]] (108 yards on 17 carries), and 167 yards against [[Northwestern Wildcats football|Northwestern]] (167 yards on a career-high 42 carries).<ref name=AD /> He set a Big Ten record with his 42 carries against Northwestern,<ref name=CT2 /> and he was selected as the most valuable player on the [[1967 Michigan Wolverines football team]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1967 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|access-date=March 9, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1967fbt.htm}}</ref>

===1968 season===
As a senior, Johnson was captain of the [[1968 Michigan Wolverines football team]], the first African-American player to receive that honor at Michigan.<ref name=CT2 /><ref name=CT>{{cite news|title=Johnson Wins Player Award: Michigan Names Him Most Valuable|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=November 29, 1968|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/11/29/page/71/article/johnson-wins-player-award}}</ref> Johnson led the 1968 team, originally predicted to be an "also-ran" in the Big Ten,<ref name=CT /> to an 8–2 record and a No. 12 ranking in the final [[AP Poll]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1968 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|access-date=March 9, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1968fbt.htm}}</ref>  He rushed for 1,391 yards on 255 carries in 10 games during the 1968 season.<ref name=AD>{{cite web|url=http://statsarchive.ath.umich.edu/VS-Football/footstart.php|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page|access-date=December 6, 2007|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2003|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402151629/http://statsarchive.ath.umich.edu/VS-Football/footstart.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>  In the second game of the 1968 season, Johnson tallied his second 200-yard game, rushing for 189 yards in the first half alone, and finishing with 205 yards on 31 carries against [[Duke Blue Devils football|Duke]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan, Johnson Beat Duke|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=September 29, 1968|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/09/29/page/58/article/michigan-johnson-beat-duke}}</ref>  He followed with three consecutive 100-yard games against Navy (121 yards on 22 carries)<ref>{{cite news|title=Big Michigan Salvos Sink Navy, 32 to 9|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 6, 1968|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/10/06/page/57/article/big-michigan-salvos-sink-navy-32-to-9}}</ref> Michigan State (152 yards on 19 carries),<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolverines Win: Upset M.S.U. On Drives In Fourth Quarter|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 13, 1968|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/10/13/page/65/article/wolverines-win-irish-defeat-n-u/index.html}}</ref> and Indiana (163 yards on 34 carries).<ref name=AD />

On November 16, 1968, in his next-to-last game for Michigan, Johnson set an NCAA record by rushing for 347 yards on 31 carries (11.2 yards per carry) against [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin]].  He also scored a Big Ten record five rushing touchdowns in Michigan's 34–9 victory over the Badgers.<ref name=CT3>{{cite news|title=Ohio, Michigan Win; Meet on Saturday; Johnson Gets 347 Yards, Scores Five Times To Help Michigan Beat Wisconsin 34 to 9|first=George|last=Langford|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 17, 1968|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/11/17/page/53/article/ohio-michigan-win-meet-jon-saturday}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Wisconsin Defeat Summed Up in but 2 Words -- Ron Johnson |first=Oliver E. |last=Kuechle |newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal |date=November 18, 1968 |pages=2–12 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19681118&id=WAsqAAAAIBAJ&pg=2080,4620545}}</ref>  The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' hailed Johnson's performance against Wisconsin as "the most explosive display of running in the proud history of the Big Ten conference."<ref name=CT3 /> As of 2014, his 347 rushing yards remains a Michigan single-game rushing record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/fbl-recordbook-2013-1.pdf|title=''Michigan Football Record Book (Through 2013 Season)''|access-date=November 12, 2018|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110819/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/fbl-recordbook-2013-1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Johnson also set several career and season records at Michigan.  His 2,524 rushing yards set a new career rushing record at Michigan, eclipsing the record set by [[Tom Harmon]] from 1938 to 1940.<ref name=AD />  He also set Big Ten single-season records with 92 points scored and 1,017 rushing yards in seven conference games during the 1968 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Johnson, Brown Big Ten Leaders|newspaper=The Owosso Argus-Press (AP story)|date=November 29, 1968|page=19|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1978&dat=19681127&id=uzciAAAAIBAJ&pg=1713,3298794}}</ref> During the 1968 season, Johnson also set Michigan single-season records with 19 rushing touchdowns (breaking a record set by Tom Harmon in 1940), 139.1 rushing yards per game, and 1,557 combined rushing/receiving yards.<ref name=Inducted />

Michigan head coach Bump Elliott credited Johnson's success to his instincts: "I just think it's instinct. He's a strong runner and has great instincts."<ref name=RJ>{{cite news|title=Michigan's Ron Johnson On-and-Off Field Threat|newspaper=Schenectady Gazette|date=November 21, 1968|page=50|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19681121&id=TyBHAAAAIBAJ&pg=757,4707109}}</ref>  [[Ohio State University]] assistant coach [[Esco Sarkkinen]] credited Johnson's [[Physical fitness|physique]]: "Johnson has good size, speed, agility and balance.  But his extraordinary physique give him the ability to shake off tacklers."<ref name=RJ /> Johnson himself credited his ability to find an opening as his main asset: "Picking the hole is what I think I do best. It's more instinct than anything else. You either have it or you don't. When the play is called in the huddle I start thinking about where the hole is supposed to be."<ref name=CT2 />

At the end of his senior year, Johnson won numerous honours, including the following:
* He was selected by the [[Football Writers Association of America]] and ''[[Football News]]'' as a first-team running back on the [[1968 College Football All-America Team]].<ref>{{cite web|title=FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team|editor-first=Ted|editor-last=Gangi|access-date=February 8, 2015|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304073432/http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>  He was also selected as a second-team All-American by the [[Associated Press|AP]],<ref>{{cite news|title=1968 All-America|newspaper=The Progress (PA)|date=December 5, 1968|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3367408/1968_ap_all_america_team/}}</ref> [[United Press International|UPI]],<ref>{{cite news|title=UPI All-America Football Squad|newspaper=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|date=November 26, 1968|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3367645/1968_upi_all_america_team/}}</ref> and [[Newspaper Enterprise Association|NEA]].<ref>{{cite news|title=NEA All-American|newspaper=Hope Star|date=November 30, 1968|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3367534/1968_nea_all_america_team/}}</ref>
* He was unanimously selected by his Michigan teammates as the team's most valuable player,<ref name=CT /> winning the honor for the second consecutive year.<ref name=Inducted />
* He won the [[Chicago Tribune Silver Football]] trophy as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.<ref>{{cite web|title=Past Silver Football winners|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=March 9, 2015|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-silver-football-awards-htmlstory.html}}</ref>
* He received the Big Ten Medal as the most outstanding scholar-athlete at the University of Michigan.<ref name=HOF>{{College Football HoF|id=1889|name=Ron Johnson|accessdate=March 7, 2015}}</ref>
* He finished sixth in the voting for the 1968 [[Heisman Trophy]] with 12 first-place votes and 158 total points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Simpson Wins Heisman Race; Keyes Is Second|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 27, 1968|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/11/27/page/37/article/simpson-wins-heisman-race-keyes-is-second}}</ref>

Johnson graduated from the University of Michigan in 1969 with a business degree.

==Professional football==
Johnson was selected by the [[Cleveland Browns]] in the first round of the [[1969 NFL/AFL Draft|1969 NFL Draft]].<ref name=PFR />  In August 1969, Johnson ended a lengthy holdout, signing a two-year contract with the Browns in exchange for a compensation package reported to be in excess of $100,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ron Johnson's signing Price exceeds $100,000|newspaper=The Bryan Times|date=August 7, 1968|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19690807&id=VWsxAAAAIBAJ&pg=7158,1994372}}</ref>  In a disappointing rookie season, he appeared in all 14 games, 13 as a starter, as a [[Fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]] for the Browns, but gained only 472 yards and scored seven touchdowns on 138 carries.<ref name=PFR /><ref name=Trade />

Johnson, along with [[Jim Kanicki]] and [[Wayne Meylan]], was traded by the Browns to the [[New York Giants]] for [[Homer Jones (American football)|Homer Jones]] on January 26, 1970.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/27/archives/giants-trade-jones-to-browns-and-obtain-kanicki-ron-johnson-and.html Vecsey, George. "Giants Trade Jones to Browns and Obtain Kanicki, Ron Johnson and Meylan," ''The New York Times'', Tuesday, January 27, 1970.] Retrieved November 11, 2018</ref> He noted at the time that he was "shocked" by the trade, but hopeful since he believed he was better suited to being a halfback than a fullback as he was used in Cleveland.<ref name=Trade>{{cite news|title=Ron Johnson Shocked But Happy After Swap|newspaper=The Owosso Argus-Press (AP story)|first=Jack|last=Hand|date=February 9, 1970|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1978&dat=19700209&id=lDgiAAAAIBAJ&pg=966,3777758}}</ref>

In his first season in New York, Johnson became the first player in Giants franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards.  On November 8, 1970, he rushed for 136 yards and caught four passes for 59 yards, including a game-winning touchdown pass with three minutes remaining, in a 23–20 victory over the [[Dallas Cowboys]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Giants Tip Cowboys; Ron Johnson Is Star|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=November 9, 1970|pages=2–14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19701109&id=gdsjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5756,6487619}}</ref> He led the NFL with 263 carries and gained 1,027 yards, second in the NFL behind [[Larry Brown (running back)|Larry Brown]]. He also gained 487 receiving yards on 48 catches.<ref name=PFR />  Late in the 1970 season, Giants quarterback [[Fran Tarkenton]] said of Johnson: "Johnson is the best halfback in football today&nbsp;... period!  He's just a devastating football player."<ref name=Dad>{{cite news|title=Ron Runs as Dad Looks On|newspaper=The Spartanburg Herald (AP story)|date=November 10, 1970|page=12|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19701110&id=NDMsAAAAIBAJ&pg=7137,2046940}}</ref> Johnson's 1,000-yard season capped a big year for the Johnson family, as brother Alex won the [[American League]] batting title with a .329 [[batting average (baseball)|average]] for the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]].<ref name=BR />

In the summer of 1971, Johnson suffered a thigh injury while playing a pickup basketball game in [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]]. After blood collected in his thigh tissue, Johnson was required to undergo surgery.<ref>{{cite news|title=More troubles for Giants: Ron Johnson sidelined|newspaper=Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian|date=August 25, 1971|page=27|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19710825&id=IGofAAAAIBAJ&pg=2612,5509188}}</ref>  As a result of the injury, Johnson missed the first six games of the [[1971 NFL season]].  He returned to the lineup for two games, but he sustained a ligament injury against the [[History of the San Diego Chargers|San Diego Chargers]] on November 7, 1971, and missed the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ron Johnson Back on Giants List of Injured|newspaper=The Morning Record|date=November 9, 1971|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2512&dat=19711109&id=k6hIAAAAIBAJ&pg=6124,1112452}}</ref>  Johnson gained 156 yards on 32 carries in two games during the 1971 season.<ref name=PFR />

Johnson returned to his pre-injury form during the [[1972 NFL season]].  He led the NFL with a career-high 298 carries and gained 1,182 rushing yards, third best in the NFL behind [[O. J. Simpson]] and Larry Brown.  He also gained 451 receiving yards on 45 catches.<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Ron Johnson|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=March 7, 2015|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnRo02.htm}}</ref> Johnson's two 1-000-yard seasons were also the only two winning seasons the Giants had between [[1964 NFL season|1964]] and [[1980 NFL season|1980]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=March 8, 2015|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/}}</ref>

Johnson continued to play for the Giants through the 1975 season.  He tallied 902 rushing yards and 377 receiving yards in 1973, but saw his playing time drop off in 1974 and 1975.<ref name=PFR />  In 1974 he was held back by two leg injuries, a thumb injury, and possibly with issues with new head coach [[Bill Arnsparger]] relating to Johnson's role in the [[1974 NFL strike]].<ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-21|newspaper=Daily News|title=Ron: 'I don't let people down'|author=Pepe, Phil|date=November 5, 1974|page=55|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108048011/daily-news/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-21|newspaper=Daily Record|title=Ron Johnson's smarting from unjust criticism|author=Castellano, Dan|date=November 3, 1974|page=D2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108025214/daily-record/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-21|newspaper=Daily Record|title=Happy Johnson makes Giants optimistic|author=Castellano, Dan|date=July 27, 1975|page=D6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108062626/daily-record/}}</ref>  Johnson played out his option in 1975 and  signed a contract to play for the Dallas Cowboys in June 1976, but he was cut by Dallas before the 1976 season began.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cowboys Sign RB Ron Johnson|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger|date=June 24, 1976|page=1B|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19760624&id=bIksAAAAIBAJ&pg=3240,6725068}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-21|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger|title=Pro Football Migration Grows|date=July 7, 1976|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108030158/clarion-ledger/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-21|newspaper=Messenger-Inquirer|title=Another scramble likely in NFC East|page=7A|date=September 7, 1976|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108030399/messenger-inquirer/}}</ref>

==Family and later years==
In 1970, Johnson married his wife, Karen, and they have two children, Christopher and Allison.<ref name=NYT20110918 /><ref>{{cite web|title=Running for Ron: Son of Former Giants RB runs for Dad|publisher=New York Giants|date=October 25, 2012|url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Running-for-Ron-Son-of-Former-Giants-RB-runs-for-Dad/1c0e501a-fa18-4c1d-938b-30aef13d5625|access-date=March 9, 2015|archive-date=August 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805021536/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Running-for-Ron-Son-of-Former-Giants-RB-runs-for-Dad/1c0e501a-fa18-4c1d-938b-30aef13d5625|url-status=dead}}</ref> In approximately 1983, Johnson started Rackson, a food service company based in [[Totowa, New Jersey]]. His son, Christopher, later joined the company, which eventually owned 13 [[KFC|Kentucky Fried Chicken]] franchises in Michigan and New Jersey.<ref name=NYT20110918 /><ref>{{cite news|title=Chris Johnson, son of former Giant Ron Johnson, running marathons to raise money for father's illness|date=November 11, 2012|newspaper=NorthJersey.com|url=http://www.northjersey.com/sports/chris-johnson-son-of-former-giant-ron-johnson-running-marathons-to-raise-money-for-father-s-illness-1.343977?page=all}}</ref>

Johnson was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1992.<ref name=Inducted>{{cite news|title=Former Wolverine Johnson inducted into collegiate Hall|newspaper=[[The Michigan Daily]]|date=January 17, 1992|page=12|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19920117&id=cBBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1296,420441}}</ref> In 2006, he was named the chairman of the [[National Football Foundation]], operator of the College Football Hall of Fame, becoming its fifth chairman in 59 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ron Johnson Succeeds Jon Hanson as NFF Chairman|publisher=National Football Foundation|date=April 18, 2006|url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2006/4/18/_51001.aspx?path=football}}</ref>  In 2008, Johnson was diagnosed with [[Alzheimer's disease]]. As of 2011, Johnson was living in a [[residential care]] facility in [[New Jersey]], and the majority of the cost of his care was being funded by the NFL's "[[88 Plan]]".<ref name=NYT20110918>{{cite news|last=Rhoden|first=William C.|title=Ex-Giant' s Case Is a Window on N.F.L. Aid|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/sports/football/ex-giants-case-is-a-window-on-nfl-aid.html|access-date=March 7, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 18, 2011}}</ref>

==Death==
Johnson died on November 10, 2018, at the age of 71, in [[Madison, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Richard |title=Ron Johnson, Giants Running Back, Dies at 71 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/10/obituaries/ron-johnson-dead-giants.html |access-date=November 12, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=November 10, 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]]
* [[Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|1889}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=2517753 |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=J/JohnRo02 |rotoworld= }}

{{Chicago Tribune Silver Football navbox}}
{{Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders}}
{{1969 NFL Draft}}
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{{Browns1969DraftPicks}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Ron}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:College football announcers]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines football players]]
[[Category:New York Giants players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Ross School of Business alumni]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Bergen County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Detroit]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Fort Lee, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Bergen County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Northwestern High School (Michigan) alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]