John Henry Johnson
John Henry Johnson, born on November 24, 1929, in Waterproof, Louisiana, was a prominent American football player known for his exceptional skills both as a runner and a blocker. He showcased remarkable athletic talent in high school, earning twelve sports letters and setting a discus throw record in California. Johnson played college football at St. Mary's College and later at Arizona State University, where he excelled in punt returns. He began his professional career in the Canadian Football League, winning the MVP award as a rookie with the Calgary Stampeders before joining the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.
Known for his unselfish style of play, Johnson became a formidable blocking back, helping pave the way for his teammates. After notable stints with the 49ers and the Detroit Lions, he concluded his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he became the first Steeler to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Johnson's contributions to the sport earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Beyond football, he dedicated himself to community service, founding the John Henry Johnson Foundation to support disadvantaged youth. His legacy includes not only impressive statistical achievements but also the respect and gratitude of his peers for his selfless playing style.
John Henry Johnson
Football Player
- Born: November 24, 1929
- Birthplace: Waterproof, Louisiana
- Died: June 3, 2011
- Place of death: Tracy, California
Sport: Football
Early Life
John Henry Johnson was born on November 24, 1929, in Waterproof, Louisiana, but his father, a Pullman porter, moved the family across the country to Pittsburg, California, near Oakland, when John Henry was still very young. John Henry was an exceptional athlete at Pittsburg High School, earning twelve sports letters. In 1949, he set a California high school track and field record for the discus throw. In 1972, he was voted the East Bay Area High School Athlete of the Century by the Oakland Tribune.
As a football star, John Henry was recruited by many colleges, but he chose to stay close to home by attending St. Mary’s College in nearby Moraga, California. St. Mary’s was a small school, but the Gaels had a famous football heritage. The high point of John Henry’s career there came in 1950, when his 84-yard kickoff return helped St. Mary’s to tie the heavily favored University of Georgia. St. Mary’s dropped its football program after the 1950 season. John Henry attended Modesto Junior College in California briefly and then entered Arizona State University, where he earned a degree in education in 1955. In 1952, his final year of football eligibility, he led all college players in punt returns.
The Road to Excellence
The Pittsburgh Steelers, perennial losers in the NFL, chose John Henry in the second round of the 1953 NFL draft, but he was unimpressed by either the team’s record or contract offer. Instead, he accepted a considerably better offer of $11,000 from the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In 1953, as a rookie, John Henry earned the CFL most valuable player award. Although he led the league in no specific category, he rushed for 648 yards on 107 attempts, caught 33 passes for 365 yards, intercepted 5 passes, returned 47 punts and 20 kickoffs, completed 5 passes, and scored 8 touchdowns.
Impressed, the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL acquired the right to sign the young star. In 1954, John Henry joined the 49ers as the fourth man in a fabulous backfield. All four of the starters from that backfield have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—fullback Joe Perry in 1969, halfback Hugh McElhenny in 1970, quarterback Y. A. Tittle in 1971, and John Henry in 1987.
John Henry rushed for 681 yards in his first year with San Francisco, but his primary duty was to block for the other three stars. Soon, he became known as the league’s foremost blocking back, a reputation that continued throughout his career. At 6 feet 2 inches and 225 pounds, he was big enough to chop down hard-charging defensive ends, and his excellent speed allowed him to get out in front of his running mates to flatten downfield opponents. Good blocking takes more than size or speed, though. It takes an unselfish determination. John Henry enjoyed blocking for his teammates even more than he enjoyed running with the ball.
The Emerging Champion
Injuries spoiled John Henry’s next two seasons. Additionally, like most NFL teams, the 49ers had gone to a backfield of only two runners with an extra pass receiver set wide; this reduced his playing time still further. In 1957, San Francisco traded John Henry to the Detroit Lions, who needed a strong fullback to protect quarterback Bobby Layne. The Lions and 49ers finished tied for the Western Division lead at season’s end. John Henry was banged up and played only briefly in Detroit’s playoff victory over San Francisco, but he was healthy for the NFL Championship game and averaged five yards per carry as the Lions destroyed Cleveland, 59-14.
In both 1958 and 1959, John Henry was again slowed by injuries. Running backs are prone to injury, and, in general, their careers are shorter than those of other NFL players. The Lions, guessing John Henry was near the end, traded him away, but, in fact, his best years were still in front of him.
Continuing the Story
Ironically, John Henry was traded to Pittsburgh, the team he had refused to join in 1953. This time, the Steelers met his price. The Steelers of the early 1960’s were never quite a championship team. During the six seasons John Henry played for them, they had only two winning seasons. Nevertheless, they were regarded around the league as a tough bunch of spoilers—the kind of team that always fought hard and left opponents bruised, if not beaten. Much of that distinction was the result of John Henry’s fierce blocking and powerful running.
In 1962, he became the first Steeler and only the ninth NFL player to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Two years later, at the age of thirty-five, he again topped the 1,000-yard mark. No NFL runner past the age of thirty had ever gone more than 1,000 yards twice.
John Henry’s best seasons came at a time when two other great fullbacks, Jim Brown of Cleveland and Jim Taylor of Green Bay, monopolized the all-NFL teams. Playing for a losing team like Pittsburgh, John Henry had no chance at those honors. However, he was recognized by his peers as a four-time Pro Bowl selection. After one last season with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League, in 1966, John Henry retired. At the time, he ranked as the fourth-leading all-time rusher in NFL history, with 7,451 yards. Although longer schedules and new rushing strategies have allowed many runners to move past him in the record books, John Henry did not drop off the “top 20” rushing list until the 1990 season.
Summary
After his retirement, John Henry Johnson worked in public relations and urban affairs in Pittsburgh, where he also founded an organization to aid disadvantaged youth, the John Henry Johnson Foundation. John Henry’s rushing achievements are part of his statistical record and no doubt helped his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but his unique ability as a blocker is what earned him the gratitude of his teammates and coaches. There are no statistics to show how many extra yards his fellow runners gained or how many sacks his quarterbacks were spared because of John Henry’s mighty blocks.
Bibliography
Carroll, Bob. Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
McCullough, Bob. My Greatest Day in Football: The Legends of Football Recount Their Greatest Moments. New York: Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press, 2002.
Smith, Ron, and Dan Dierdorf. Heroes of the Hall. St. Louis: Sporting News, 2003.