John Henry Johnson passed away this past evening, surrounded by his family in their Tracey, California home. Johnson played for four teams across thirteen years including the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Oilers.
Johnson was drafted in 1953 by the Steelers but instead decided to play a season in Canada with the Calgary Stampeders. He was named the MVP as a rookie in 1954. The Steelers traded the negotiating rights to the 49ers who signed him to be a part of the famed “million dollar” backfield from 1954 to 1956.
Johnson was a member of the Detroit Lions from 1957 to 1959 and was an integral part of the 1957 NFL Champion Lions, as he led the team in rushing by racking up 621 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The best years of his career were no doubt in the Steel City from 1960 to 1965. A trade brought Johnson to the team that had originally drafted him seven seasons earlier, and Johnson would leave an imprint on the Steelers forever. In six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers he rushed for 4,381 yards on 1,006 carries and 26 touchdowns. He also grabbed 106 passes for 814 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Johnson left the Steelers in 1965 to play one season with the Houston Oilers in 1966. When Johnson retired following the 1966 season he trailed only Jim Brown, Jim Taylor and Joe Perry on the NFL’s All-Time rushing list. He was selected to four pro bowls, three of those in a Steeler uniform. To this day John Henry Johnson remains fourth on the Steelers All-Time Rushing list behind Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker.
John Henry received the highest honor a player can attain when he was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. His his career JHJ played in 143 games amassing 6,803 rushing yards on 1,571 carries with 48 touchdowns and added 1,478 yards on 187 catches with 7 touchdowns.
John Henry Johnson will always be known as a Pittsburgh Steeler to me. RIP.
