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Larry Johnson (running back) facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Larry Johnson (American football coach) or Larry Johnson (linebacker).
Quick facts for kids
Larry Johnson
refer to caption
Johnson in 2006
No. 34, 27, 23
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1979-11-19) November 19, 1979 (age 45)
Pomfret, Maryland, U.S.
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school: State College Area
(State College, Pennsylvania)
College: Penn State (1998–2002)
NFL Draft: 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Pro (2006)
  • Second-team All-Pro (2005)
  • 2× Pro Bowl (2005, 2006)
  • Maxwell Award (2002)
  • Walter Camp Award (2002)
  • Doak Walker Award (2002)
  • Jim Brown Trophy (2002)
  • Unanimous All-American (2002)
  • First-team All-Big Ten (2002)
NFL record
  • 416 rush attempts in a single season (2006)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 6,223
Rushing average: 4.4
Rushing touchdowns: 55
Receptions: 154
Receiving yards: 1,373
Receiving touchdowns: 6
Player stats at PFR

Larry Alphonso Johnson Jr. (born in 1979) is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions. In 2002, he won the Maxwell Award and was named a unanimous All-American.

The Kansas City Chiefs picked Johnson in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, and Miami Dolphins.

Early Life and High School

Larry Johnson was born in Pomfret, Maryland. His father, Larry Johnson Sr., was a high school coach. He later became a defensive line coach at Penn State University and Ohio State University.

Johnson went to State College Area High School in State College, Pennsylvania. He played for the school's football team, the State College Little Lions.

College Football Career

Johnson played college football at Pennsylvania State University. He was part of coach Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 1999 to 2002.

Amazing 2002 Season

In his senior year (2002), Johnson had an incredible season. He rushed for over 2,000 yards. He did this with fewer carries than almost any other player in the 2,000-yard club. He averaged 8.0 yards per carry during the regular season.

Johnson broke Penn State's record for rushing yards in a single game three times in 2002:

  • He ran for 257 yards against Northwestern.
  • He gained 279 yards against Illinois.
  • He set a new record with 327 yards against Indiana.

In the final Big Ten Conference game against Michigan State, Johnson rushed for 279 yards. He achieved all these yards in the first half alone. He finished the 2002 season with 2,087 rushing yards.

College Awards and Honors

After his amazing 2002 season, Johnson received many honors. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He was also a unanimous first-team All-American.

He won several major awards for college players:

  • The Doak Walker Award for the best running back.
  • The Maxwell Award for the top college player.
  • The Walter Camp Award for the top college player.

Overall, Johnson rushed for 2,159 yards and 29 touchdowns in his college career. He earned a degree in integrative arts from Penn State in 2002.

College Statistics Overview

Season Year GP Rushing Receiving
Att Yards Avg TD Rec Yds TD
1999 Penn State 12 43 171 4.0 1 4 74 1
2000 Penn State 12 75 358 4.8 3 9 122 1
2001 Penn State 12 71 337 4.7 2 11 136 2
2002 Penn State 12 271 2,087 7.7 20 41 349 3
College 48 460 2,953 6.4 26 65 681 7

Professional Football Career

Kansas City Chiefs Years

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Larry Johnson in 2003. He was the 27th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft.

Early Seasons (2003–2006)

Johnson became a starter for the Chiefs in 2005. This happened after injuries to other running backs. On November 20, 2005, he set a Chiefs' record. He rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns against the Houston Texans.

By the end of the 2005 season, Johnson had nine games in a row with over 100 rushing yards. He earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. He also set a new team record with 1,750 rushing yards in one season. He achieved this even though he didn't start in 7 games. Johnson was named the Chiefs' MVP for 2005.

Larry Johnson Chiefs
Johnson in a game in 2006

In the 2006 season, Johnson was the Chiefs' main running back. He rushed for 1,789 yards, which was second-best in the league. He also set an NFL record with 416 carries in one season. The Chiefs made it to the playoffs with a 9–7 record. Johnson was selected for his second Pro Bowl.

Later Seasons (2007–2009)

In 2007, Johnson signed a big contract extension with the Chiefs. It made him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL. However, he suffered a foot injury in Week 9 of the 2007 regular season. This injury ended his season early. He finished with 559 yards and three touchdowns.

081116Saints-Chiefs02 (cropped)
Johnson lining up in the Wildcat formation in 2008

In 2008, Johnson returned from his injury. He had some strong games, including one with 198 rushing yards. However, he faced some challenges off the field. He was suspended by the team and the league for violating rules. He finished the season with 874 yards and five touchdowns.

The 2009 season started slowly for Johnson. He had low rushing yards per carry. In October 2009, the Chiefs suspended him for comments he made on social media. He later apologized for his words. On November 9, 2009, the Chiefs released Johnson from the team.

Cincinnati Bengals

In November 2009, Johnson joined the Cincinnati Bengals. He played as a backup running back. In one game, he rushed for 107 yards, which was his only 100-yard game that season.

Washington Redskins

Johnson signed with the Washington Redskins in March 2010. He played for former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. However, he was released by the Redskins in September 2010.

Miami Dolphins

In August 2011, Johnson signed with the Miami Dolphins. He was released shortly after but was re-signed due to another player's injury. He played in one game for the Dolphins before being released again.

NFL Career Statistics

Legend
NFL record
Bold Career high

Regular Season Performance

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Y/A Lng TD Rec Yds Y/R Lng TD Fum Lost
2003 KC 6 0 20 85 4.3 15 1 1 2 2 2 0 0 0
2004 KC 10 3 120 581 4.8 46T 9 22 278 12.6 40 2 0 0
2005 KC 16 9 336 1,750 5.2 49T 20 33 343 10.4 36 1 5 4
2006 KC 16 16 416 1,789 4.3 47 17 41 410 10.0 78 2 2 2
2007 KC 8 8 158 559 3.5 54 3 30 186 6.2 30T 1 1 1
2008 KC 12 12 193 874 4.5 65 5 12 74 6.2 20 0 5 1
2009 KC 7 7 132 377 2.9 19 0 12 76 6.3 22 0 2 1
CIN 7 0 46 204 4.4 27 0 3 4 1.3 6 0 0 0
2010 WAS 2 0 5 2 0.4 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011 MIA 1 0 1 2 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 85 55 1,427 6,223 4.4 65 55 154 1,373 8.9 78 6 15 9

Playoff Performance

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Y/A Lng TD Rec Yds Y/R Lng TD Fum Lost
2006 KC 1 1 13 32 2.5 6 0 5 29 5.8 13 0 0 0
Career 1 1 13 32 2.5 6 0 5 29 5.8 13 0 0 0

NFL Records

  • Most rushing attempts in a single season: 416 (2006)

Chiefs Franchise Records

  • Most career rushing attempts (1,375)
  • Most rushing yards in a single season: 1,789 (2006)

Personal Life

Larry Johnson has a close relationship with his father, Larry Sr.. His brother, Tony Johnson, also played football for Penn State as a wide receiver.

Johnson appeared on the cover of the PlayStation 2 game NCAA GameBreaker 2004. He was shown in his Penn State uniform. He also appeared in music videos for artists like Fantasia and Jay-Z.

See also

  • List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders
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