San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmy Johnson, one of six members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who spent his entire career with the franchise, died Wednesday night at 86.
“The 49ers family is deeply saddened by the passing of one of the NFL’s all-time greats, Jimmy Johnson,” the team said in a statement. “Jimmy embodied the essence of what it meant to be a 49er. He was the ultimate gentleman and will be remembered for his humility, kindness and loveable demeanor. We send our condolences to his wife Gisela and his entire family at this difficult time.”
Johnson, whose death was announced by the Hall of Fame on Thursday, was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-Pro in his 16-year career (1961-76). He ranks second in franchise history in interceptions (47) and interception-return yards (615), trailing only Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott in those categories. Johnson also ranks second in games played (213) for the 49ers, trailing only Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.
Honors came to Johnson repeatedly in the wake of his career. He was a first-string corner on NFL’s 1970s All-Decade team, and his jersey (No. 37) was retired by the 49ers in 1977. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. Johnson, Bryant Young, Leo Nomellini, Bob St. Clair, Dave Wilcox and Patrick Willis are the Hall of Fame members who played only for the 49ers. Willis is scheduled to be formally inducted this summer.
“The notion that a ‘lockdown’ cornerback could cut the field in half for the opposition was true with Jimmy,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said. “Only rarely would other teams’ quarterbacks even look in his direction, and more often than not, regretted the decision if they challenged him.”
Said Johnson in 1994 of the reluctance to test him: “I got four or five balls thrown my way, usually to see if I had my head in the game.”
Johnson played both wingback and defensive back at UCLA. The younger brother of 1960 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson, he shared his sibling’s track talent: Johnson was an All-American who was an NCAA champion in the 110-meter high hurdles.
Johnson was the No. 6 pick in the 1961 NFL draft. The 49ers expected to use him at wide receiver as a rookie, but those plans were scuttled when he broke his wrist before training camp.
The 49ers then moved him to cornerback and he responded with five interceptions.
In 1962, Johnson’s lone full season at wide receiver, he had 34 receptions for 627 yards and ranked 12th in the league in yards per catch (18.4).
In 1963, he returned to the defensive backfield, where he remained for the rest of his career.