The NFL lost a good man Tuesday when Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson passed away after a battle with cancer.
The 68-year-old Johnson was one of the true gentlemen of the game. He was a defensive wizard, who loved to blitz. He made defense fun to watch.
A few years ago, I wrote a column about Johnson and the possibility that age was keeping him from becoming a head coach, an age discrimination type of situation. Johnson brushed it off.
That was him. He never wanted to rock the boat.
He just did his job -- and did it well.
I hope the NFL considers putting him in the Pro Foootball Hall of Fame as a coordinator since he never had the chance to be a head coach. That doesn't happen, but Johnson should be an exception.
It's a sad day in the NFL because of the death of Johnson. I will miss talking with him after games.
The 68-year-old Johnson was one of the true gentlemen of the game. He was a defensive wizard, who loved to blitz. He made defense fun to watch.
A few years ago, I wrote a column about Johnson and the possibility that age was keeping him from becoming a head coach, an age discrimination type of situation. Johnson brushed it off.
That was him. He never wanted to rock the boat.
He just did his job -- and did it well.
I hope the NFL considers putting him in the Pro Foootball Hall of Fame as a coordinator since he never had the chance to be a head coach. That doesn't happen, but Johnson should be an exception.
It's a sad day in the NFL because of the death of Johnson. I will miss talking with him after games.
