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Johnny Johnson (American football)

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Johnny Johnson
No. 39
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1968-06-11) June 11, 1968 (age 56)
Santa Clara, California
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Santa Cruz (CA)
College:San Jose State
NFL draft:1990 / Round: 7 / Pick: 169
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:4,078
Average:3.9
Rushing TDs:21

Johnny Johnson, Jr. (born June 11, 1968) is a retired American football running back who played in the National Football League for the New York Jets and the Phoenix Cardinals between 1990 and 1994.

High school and college

He prepped at Santa Cruz High School.[1] Johnson attended and graduated from San Jose State University. For the San Jose State Spartans basketball team, Johnson played 12 games as a basketball player after most team members walked off and refused to play under coach Bill Berry. With 1,219 yards rushing and 61 catches in receiving, Johnson was considered among the top 20 college football players in the United States in 1988.[2]

Professional career

Johnson played in the 1991 Pro Bowl. After playing for three seasons for the Cardinals, he was traded during the 1993 NFL Draft to the New York Jets, in exchange for the Cardinals moving from the number 4 pick in the draft to the Jets' number 3 draft position. The Cardinals badly wanted Garrison Hearst, who also played running back, so the Cardinals were willing to part with Johnson just to move up one draft spot.[3]

After arriving on the Jets, Johnny Johnson was named Jets team MVP in 1993 in a vote by his teammates. Johnson finished the season ranked second in the AFC in total yards from scrimmage. He was one of only two backs to lead his team in rushing and receptions.

He became a free agent in 1995, and the Jets made him available for the expansion draft that year.[4] Johnson considered signing with the San Francisco 49ers.[1] In April 1996, Johnson signed a two-year, $3-million contract with the 49ers; consequently, the 49ers waived Dennis Brown to make salary cap room for Johnson.[5]

Statistics

Note: G = Games played; Att = Rushing attempts; Yds = Rushing yards; Avg = Average yards per carry; Long = Longest rush; Rush TD = Rushing touchdowns; Rec = Receptions; Yds = Receiving yards; Avg = Average yards per reception; Long = Longest reception; Rec TD = Receiving touchdowns

Year Team GP Att Yds Avg Long Rush TD Rec Yds Avg Long Rec TD
1990 Phoenix Cardinals 14 234 926 4.0 41 5 25 241 9.6 35 0
1991 Phoenix Cardinals 15 196 666 3.4 21 4 29 225 7.8 51 2
1992 Phoenix Cardinals 12 178 734 4.1 42 6 14 103 7.4 26 0
1993 New York Jets 15 198 821 4.1 57 3 67 641 9.6 48 1
1994 New York Jets 16 240 931 3.9 90 3 42 303 7.2 24 2
Career Totals 72 1,046 4,078 3.9 90 21 177 1,513 8.5 51 5
  • Stats that are highlighted show career high

Notes

  1. ^ a b Swan, Gary (November 7, 1995). "Johnny Johnson May Sign Soon". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  2. ^ Norwood, Robyn (August 28, 1989). "Big West Preview : Johnson, San Jose State Bulk Up for Challenge of Fresno State". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  3. ^ "Jets Trade Down But Still Move Up", New York Times, April 26, 1993
  4. ^ Eskenazi, Gerald (February 16, 1995). "Risky, Yes, but Jets Get Back Their Man". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  5. ^ "49ers Cut a Starter". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 3, 1996. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
Sporting positions
Preceded by New York Jets Starting Running Back
1993-1994
Succeeded by
Awards and achievements