Ron Johnson (running back) facts for kids
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Johnson in 1967
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | October 17, 1947 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Died: | November 10, 2018 (aged 71) Madison, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||
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| High school: | Northwestern | ||||||||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20 | ||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Ronald "Ron" Adolphis Johnson (born October 17, 1947 – died November 10, 2018) was a famous American football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). A running back is a player who carries the ball and tries to run past defenders.
Johnson played college football for the University of Michigan from 1966 to 1968. He set many records there. In 1968, he became the first African-American captain of the Michigan football team. He also set a record for rushing 347 yards in one game.
After college, he played seven seasons in the NFL from 1969 to 1975. He made history for the New York Giants by being the first player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He did this twice, in 1970 and 1972. Ron Johnson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He later became the chairman of the National Football Foundation. Ron passed away in 2018. His older brother, Alex Johnson, was also a professional athlete, playing baseball in Major League Baseball.
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Early Life & Family Connections
Ron Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1947. His father, Arthur Johnson, owned a trucking company. This company supported Ron, his parents, and his four siblings.
Ron's older brother, Alex, was a talented athlete. Alex played both baseball and football at Northwestern High School. He chose to play professional baseball. Alex made his debut in Major League Baseball when Ron was 16. Ron followed his brother to Northwestern High School. He also became a star in baseball and football. Ron graduated from high school in 1965.
College Football Career at Michigan
Johnson started at the University of Michigan in 1965. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team. His coach was Bump Elliott.
As a sophomore in 1966, Ron had limited playing time. He gained 44 yards on 12 carries. Older players like Carl Ward and Jim Detwiler were also in the backfield.
1967 Season: Breaking Records
In 1967, Ron became the main halfback for the Wolverines. A halfback is a type of running back. He rushed for 982 yards that season. He carried the ball 210 times, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
On October 7, 1967, Johnson broke two records. He set new Michigan and Big Ten Conference single-game rushing records. He rushed for 270 yards on 26 carries against Navy. This was an amazing 10.4 yards per carry!
He also had several other games with over 100 rushing yards. These included games against Michigan State (107 yards) and Minnesota (108 yards). He rushed for 167 yards against Northwestern. In that game, he carried the ball 42 times, which was a new Big Ten record. Ron was named the most valuable player for the 1967 Michigan Wolverines football team.
1968 Season: Captain & NCAA Record
As a senior in 1968, Johnson became team captain. He was the first African-American player to be captain at Michigan. He led the 1968 Michigan Wolverines football team to a great season. They finished with an 8–2 record and were ranked No. 12 nationally.
In 1968, he rushed for 1,391 yards in 10 games. In the second game, he rushed for 205 yards against Duke. He then had three more 100-yard games in a row.
On November 16, 1968, Johnson set an NCAA record. He rushed for an incredible 347 yards against Wisconsin. He also scored five rushing touchdowns in that game. This was a Big Ten record. The Chicago Tribune called it "the most explosive display of running." As of 2014, his 347 rushing yards is still Michigan's single-game record.
Johnson also set several career and season records at Michigan. His 2,524 career rushing yards broke the record set by Tom Harmon. He also set Big Ten single-season records. He scored 92 points and rushed for 1,017 yards in conference games in 1968. During that year, he set Michigan records for 19 rushing touchdowns and 139.1 rushing yards per game.
Michigan coach Bump Elliott praised Johnson's natural instincts. Ohio State University assistant coach Esco Sarkkinen noted his strong body. Johnson himself said his best skill was finding openings. He felt it was more instinct than anything else.
At the end of his senior year, Johnson received many awards:
- He was named a first-team All-American running back.
- His Michigan teammates voted him their most valuable player for the second year.
- He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy. This award goes to the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.
- He received the Big Ten Medal as the best scholar-athlete at Michigan.
- He finished sixth in the voting for the 1968 Heisman Trophy.
Johnson earned a business degree from the University of Michigan in 1969.
Professional Football Career
The Cleveland Browns drafted Ron Johnson in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He signed a contract for over $100,000. In his first year, he played as a fullback. He gained 472 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
On January 26, 1970, Johnson was traded to the New York Giants. He was surprised but hopeful. He felt he was better suited to be a halfback.
In his first season with the Giants, Johnson made history. He became the first player in Giants history to rush for 1,000 yards. On November 8, 1970, he rushed for 136 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. He also caught a game-winning touchdown pass. He led the NFL with 263 carries and gained 1,027 yards. He also caught 48 passes for 487 yards. Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton called Johnson "the best halfback in football." This was a big year for the Johnson family, as his brother Alex won a baseball batting title.
In 1971, Johnson had a thigh injury. He missed the first six games of the 1971 NFL season. He returned for two games but then got another injury. He missed the rest of the season.
Johnson returned strong in the 1972 NFL season. He led the NFL with 298 carries. He gained 1,182 rushing yards, which was third best in the NFL. He also caught 45 passes for 451 yards. Johnson's two 1,000-yard seasons were important. They were the only two winning seasons the Giants had between 1964 and 1980.
Johnson continued to play for the Giants until 1975. He rushed for 902 yards in 1973. His playing time decreased in 1974 and 1975 due to injuries. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 1976 but was cut before the season.
Later Life & Legacy
In 1970, Ron Johnson married his wife, Karen. They had two children, Christopher and Allison. Around 1983, Johnson started a food service company called Rackson. His son, Christopher, later joined the company. They eventually owned 13 Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants.
Johnson was honored for his college career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2006, he became the chairman of the National Football Foundation. This organization runs the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Johnson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is a condition that affects memory and thinking. He lived in a care facility in New Jersey. The NFL's "88 Plan" helped pay for his care. This plan helps former NFL players with certain health needs.
Death
Ron Johnson passed away on November 10, 2018. He was 71 years old. He died in Madison, New Jersey.
See also
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
- Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders
