Pro Football Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson, a lockdown cornerback who spent his entire 16-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, died on Wednesday evening, his family announced. He was 86.
The Hall of Fame made the announcement Thursday for Johnson’s family, which said he had been in declining health for some time and had remained in the San Francisco area.
Enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1994, Johnson played from 1961-76. He competed in 213 games — at the time a franchise record later broken by Jerry Rice. Johnson’s 47 interceptions also were a team mark later broken by Ronnie Lott.
“Jimmy Johnson was extraordinarily athletically talented,” Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement. “The 49ers enjoyed the luxury of using him on offense and defense early in his career to fill team needs. Once he settled in at left cornerback, he flourished. The notion that a ‘lockdown’ cornerback could cut the field in half for the opposition was true with Jimmy.
“Only rarely would other teams’ quarterbacks even look his direction, and more often than not regretted the decision if they challenged him.”
Johnson was selected to the Pro Bowl four straight seasons (1969-72) as well as in 1974. He was a first team All-Pro from 1970-72. The Pro Football Hall of Fame selected him for the All-Decade Team of the 1970s.
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Author: Dillon B
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