Johnnie Morton facts for kids

Johnnie James Morton Jr. (born October 7, 1971) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1990s and 2000s. Johnnie played college football for the USC Trojans. He was recognized as an All-American in 1993. The Detroit Lions picked him in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. After his football career, Morton briefly tried mixed martial arts in 2007.

Early Life and High School Football

Johnnie Morton was born in Torrance, California. He went to South High School in Torrance. There, he played for the South High Spartans high school football team.

College Football Career

Johnnie Morton played for the USC Trojans football team from 1990 to 1993. He set many records for the USC team and the Pacific-10 Conference. These records were for the most catches and receiving yards.

His coaches and fans gave him cool nicknames. Tom Kelly called him "Big Play Morton." USC broadcaster Pete Arbogast called him "Johnnie Hero." This was because of a game-winning touchdown catch he made in 1990. It was against their rivals, UCLA. Johnnie caught a 23-yard pass with only 16 seconds left. This helped the Trojans win 45-42 in an amazing comeback!

Playing in the NFL

The Detroit Lions chose Johnnie Morton as the 21st pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. He played for the Lions from 1994 to 2001. He became an important player on a strong team. Other great receivers like Herman Moore and Brett Perriman were also on the team.

In 1995, Johnnie became a key player for the Lions. He also helped on special teams by returning kickoffs and punts. That year, the Lions had one of their best offenses ever. They scored 436 points and won ten games. They even made it to the playoffs! Johnnie had 44 catches for 590 yards and 8 touchdowns that season.

One of his most famous games was on Thanksgiving Day in 1995. The Lions played the Minnesota Vikings. In that game, Johnnie Morton, Herman Moore, and Brett Perriman all caught over 100 yards in passes. Their Hall of Fame running back, Barry Sanders, also ran for 138 yards. The Lions won a high-scoring game 44-38.

After Brett Perriman left, Johnnie became an even bigger star for the Lions. His best season was in 1999. He had 80 catches for 1,129 yards. The Lions surprisingly made the playoffs that year, even after Barry Sanders retired.

Johnnie Morton finished his NFL career with 624 catches for 8,719 yards. He also scored 43 touchdowns. He is still one of the top players in Detroit Lions history for catches and receiving yards.

Personal Life and Family

Johnnie Morton comes from a family of athletes. His older half-brother, Michael Morton, played football at UNLV. His younger brother, Chad Morton, played at USC. The Morton family has both African American and Japanese heritage.

Johnnie also had small roles in the movie Jerry Maguire and the TV show Moesha.

In 2001, the Detroit Lions were having a tough season. They had lost many games. After they finally won their first game, Johnnie Morton made a funny comment about comedian Jay Leno. The next week, Johnnie was a guest on Leno's The Tonight Show.

Mixed Martial Arts

After his football career, Johnnie Morton tried mixed martial arts (MMA). He had one professional fight in 2007.

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists