BREAKING NEWS: Pro Football Hall of Fame DB dead at age 86

Jimmy Johnson, a distinguished defensive back in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who earned All-Pro honors three times and was part of the All-Decade Team for the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 86.

Jimmy Johnson, a legendary defensive back and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 86. He died on Wednesday night at his home in the San Francisco area after a prolonged illness, according to his family.

Johnson played his entire 16-year professional career with the San Francisco 49ers, appearing in 213 games, which was a record for the team at the time of his retirement. He was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 1961 draft and quickly became a starter at cornerback, earning five interceptions in his rookie season.

Johnson’s versatility allowed him to play on both offense and defense, and he even made 34 receptions for 627 yards and scored four touchdowns in 1962. However, his true strength lay in his defensive abilities, particularly in his ability to cover opponents and prevent them from gaining significant yardage.

He earned a reputation as a stingy cover man with a knack for the ball, totaling 47 interceptions and returning two for scores during his career. The Pro Football Hall of Fame President, Jim Porter, praised Johnson’s exceptional athletic abilities, stating that he was “extraordinarily athletically talented” and that his presence on the field allowed the 49ers to use him on both offense and defense to fill team needs.

Jimmy Johnson, a legendary defensive back and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 86. He died on Wednesday night at his home in the San Francisco area after a prolonged illness, according to his family. Johnson played his entire 16-year professional career with the San Francisco 49ers, appearing in 213 games, which was a record for the team at the time of his retirement. He was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 1961 draft and quickly became a starter at cornerback, earning five interceptions in his rookie season.

Johnson’s versatility allowed him to play on both offense and defense, and he even made 34 receptions for 627 yards and scored four touchdowns in 1962. However, his true strength lay in his defensive abilities, particularly in his ability to cover opponents and prevent them from gaining significant yardage. He earned a reputation as a stingy cover man with a knack for the ball, totaling 47 interceptions and returning two for scores during his career.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame President, Jim Porter, praised Johnson’s exceptional athletic abilities, stating that he was “extraordinarily athletically talented” and that his presence on the field allowed the 49ers to use him on both offense and defense to fill team needs. Johnson embodied the essence of what it meant to be a 49er, as stated by the team in their statement.

He was remembered for his humility, kindness, and lovable demeanor. In 1971, in the midst of a three-year run as an All-Pro, Johnson won the George Halas Award for courageous play.Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994, and in his induction speech, he expressed his belief that he never reached his full potential as a football player, but his longevity and the level of game he played from his rookie season to his last earned him the opportunity to become a member of the National Football League Hall of Fame.

Jimmy Johnson, a legendary defensive back and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 86. He died on Wednesday night at his home in the San Francisco area after a prolonged illness, according to his family. Johnson played his entire 16-year professional career with the San Francisco 49ers, appearing in 213 games, which was a record for the team at the time of his retirement. He was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 1961 draft and quickly became a starter at cornerback, earning five interceptions in his rookie season. Johnson’s versatility allowed him to play on both offense and defense, and he even made 34 receptions for 627 yards and scored four touchdowns in 1962.

However, his true strength lay in his defensive abilities, particularly in his ability to cover opponents and prevent them from gaining significant yardage. He earned a reputation as a stingy cover man with a knack for the ball, totaling 47 interceptions and returning two for scores during his career.The Pro Football Hall of Fame President, Jim Porter, praised Johnson’s exceptional athletic abilities, stating that he was “extraordinarily athletically talented” and that his presence on the field allowed the 49ers to use him on both offense and defense to fill team needs.Johnson embodied the essence of what it meant to be a 49er, as stated by the team in their statement. He was remembered for his humility, kindness, and lovable demeanor.

In 1971, in the midst of a three-year run as an All-Pro, Johnson won the George Halas Award for courageous play. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994, and in his induction speech, he expressed his belief that he never reached his full potential as a football player, but his longevity and the level of game he played from his rookie season to his last earned him the opportunity to become a member of the National Football League Hall of Fame. Former 49ers coach Dick Nolan once said Johnson was a better cornerback than two of his other players, Hall of Famer Mel Renfro and two-time All-Pro Cornell Green with the Cowboys.

The brother of Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson, Jimmy Johnson played two ways at UCLA, serving as a wingback on offense and a defensive back, while also competing in track as a hurdler and broad jumper. Rafer Johnson was his presenter for enshrinement in the Canton, Ohio, hall, and Jimmy credited his brother for his accomplishments in athletics.