Jimmy Johnson was a cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1960s and ‘70s and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Died: May 8, 2024 (Who else died on May 8?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 86.
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Jimmy Johnson’s legacy
Johnson grew up in Texas and California, and he played college football and ran track at UCLA. His older brother, Rafer Johnson (1934–2020), was also a track star at UCLA and went on to win a gold medal in decathlon at the 1960 Summer Olympics. But Johnson’s excellence in football took him in a different direction, and he was a first-round pick for the 49ers in the 1961 NFL Draft.
It was the beginning of a 16-season career with the 49ers for Johnson, who played as a wide receiver and safety, in addition to cornerback. Over the course of his career – which was spent entirely with the 49ers – he became respected as one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. He went to five Pro Bowls, four of them consecutive, from 1969 to 1972. In 1969 and 1975, he was honored with the 49ers’ Len Eshmont Award. Shortly after his 1976 retirement, his #37 jersey was retired by the team. In 1994, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he was among the inaugural class of appointees to the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame in 2009.
Tributes to Jimmy Johnson
Full obituary: The Mercury News
