The Life And Career Of Ron Johnson (Complete Story) – Browns Nation

One position at which the Cleveland Browns have had many excellent players is running back.

In particular, Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, and Marion Motley are Cleveland running backs who are inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ron Johnson, for one season in 1969, was another outstanding running back who played for the Browns.

Traded to the New York Giants in 1970, Johnson then rushed for over 1,000 yards in two seasons, and earned first team NFL All-Pro honors and two Pro Bowl invitations, with New York.

Ron Johnson with the #Browns #RightPlayerWrongUniform pic.twitter.com/WXwRtEpOfF

Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) May 30, 2021

We take a look at the life of Ron Johnson before, during, and after his NFL playing career.

Ronald Adolphis Johnson was born on October 17, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan.

Arthur, Johnsons father, supported the family with his own trucking company, Johnson Trucking.

Johnson had two brothers and two sisters.

Alex, Johnsons brother, had a 13-year career in major league baseball, playing on eight teams from 1964 to 1976 and leading the American League in batting in 1970.

When he was growing up, Johnson idolized Jim Brown.

Johnson attended Northwestern High School in Detroit.

At Northwestern High School, Johnson starred in baseball (as a center fielder) and football.

Johnson likely could have pursued a career in baseball as well as in football.

However, he decided to play football.

He said:

I chose football because I liked it better and it was a better sport for my talents.

After graduating Northwestern High School in 1965, Johnson accepted a football scholarship from University of Michigan and headed to Ann Arbor, Michigan for college.

Johnson lettered in football at Michigan in 1966, 1967, and 1968.

In 1966, Johnson saw limited action, as he rushed for 95 yards on 23 rushing attempts.

Michigan had a 6-4 record in 1966.

Johnson became a full-time starter at running back in 1967, and he had an outstanding season.

In a 26-21 Michigan loss to Navy on October 7, 1967, Johnson rushed for 270 yards and two touchdowns on 26 rushing attempts.

He also caught three passes for 19 yards.

The following week, on October 14, 1967, Johnson rushed for 107 yards on 24 rushing attempts, in a 34-0 Michigan loss to Michigan State.

On October 28, 1967, Johnson rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns on 17 rushing attempts, in a 20-15 Michigan loss to Minnesota.

The following week, on November 4, 1967, Johnson rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth time in 1967, when he rushed for 167 yards on 42 rushing attempts, as Michigan defeated Northwestern 7-3.

In 1967, Johnson rushed for 1,005 yards and six touchdowns on 220 rushing attempts and caught 13 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown.

He led the Big Ten in rushing yards in 1967.

Johnson was selected second team 1967 College Football All-American by the Central Press Association.

He also was named first team 1967 All-Big Ten Conference by both the Associated Press and United Press International.

He also was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the 1967 Michigan team.

In 1967, Michigan had a 4-6 record.

As good a junior year as Johnson had in 1967, he had an even better season as a senior in 1968.

Johnson rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 31 rushing attempts, as Michigan defeated Duke 31-10 on September 28, 1968.

The following week, on October 5, 1968, in a 32-9 Michigan win over Navy, Johnson rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 22 rushing attempts.

In the next game, on October 12, 1968, Johnson rushed for 152 yards and one touchdown on 19 rushing attempts, in a 28-14 Michigan victory over Michigan State.

He also caught two passes for 16 yards.

The following week, on October 19, 1968, Johnson rushed for 163 yards and one touchdown on 34 rushing attempts, as Michigan defeated Indiana 27-22.

In addition, Johnson caught three passes for 19 yards.

Johnson rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns on 24 rushing attempts, in a 35-0 Michigan shutout of Northwestern on November 2, 1968.

For the sixth time in 1968, Johnson rushed for over 100 yards in a game, in a 34-9 Michigan victory over Wisconsin on November 16, 1968.

Johnson far exceeded 100 yards in the game, as he rushed for 347 yards (setting a Michigan single game record) and five touchdowns (also setting a Michigan single game record) on 31 rushing attempts.

He also caught two passes for 25 yards.

In 1968, Johnson rushed for 1,391 yards and 19 touchdowns on 255 rushing attempts and caught 15 passes for 177 yards.

Johnson led the Big Ten in all of rushing yards, yards from scrimmage, touchdowns, and points, in 1968.

He also was captain of the Michigan football team in 1968 the first African-American to do so.

Johnson was selected first team 1968 College Football All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and The Football News and second team 1968 College Football All-American by the Associated Press, the Central Press Association, the Newspaper Enterprise Association, and United Press International.

In addition, Johnson was named first team 1968 All-Big Ten Conference by both the Associated Press and United Press International.

He also won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the Big Ten in 1968 and was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the 1968 Michigan team.

Several reasons were cited for Johnsons skill as a running back when he was at Michigan.

Michigan head coach Bump Elliott said:

I just think its instinct. Hes a strong runner and has great instincts. And the men on the ball club like to block for him. Thats the kind of guy he is.

Ohio State assistant coach Esco Sarkinnen stated:

Johnson has good size, speed, agility and balance. But his extraordinary physique gives him the ability to shake off tacklers. He cuts well and picks up blockers impressively.

Michigan posted an 8-2 record and was ranked 12th in the nation in the final Associated Press poll in 1968.

Johnson graduated from Michigan with a business degree in 1969.

After his time at Michigan, Johnson continued his football career in the NFL.

1969-1970

Johnson was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 1969 NFL draft.

He was the 20th overall pick.

While Johnson was a halfback in college, he largely played fullback with Cleveland.

He started next to Leroy Kelly.

As a rookie, Johnson (at a height of six feet and one inch and at a weight of 205 pounds) played in all 14, and started 13, regular season games in 1969.

On September 21, 1969, in his first NFL regular season game, Johnson rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns (on runs of one yard and 48 yards) on 17 rushing attempts, as Cleveland defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-20.

In addition, Johnson caught two passes for 21 yards, including an 18-yard pass reception.

On November 30, 1969, Johnson scored two touchdowns, on a one-yard run and (the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter) on a seven-yard run, as the Browns defeated the Chicago Bears 28-24.

OTD 1969: #Bears legend Gale Sayers logs the final 100-yard rushing game of his career, rushing for 126 yards against the heavily-favored #Browns at Wrigley.

Chicago leads for most of the game, but Cleveland rookie Ron Johnson's 7-yard TD with 5 minutes left wins it, 28-24. pic.twitter.com/YuyO6k7IAZ

Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) November 30, 2020

For the 1969 regular season, Johnson rushed for 472 yards and the above-described seven touchdowns (tied for fifth in the NFL) on 138 rushing attempts, caught 24 passes for 164 yards, and returned one kickoff for 31 yards.

With a 10-3-1 record in 1969, Cleveland won the NFL Century Division title.

Johnson helped the Browns rank in the 1969 NFL regular season third in points scored (351), fifth in total passing and rushing yards (4,428), ninth in passing yards (2,640), tied for second in passing touchdowns (24), third in fewest sacks allowed (20), fifth in rushing yards (1,788), tied for first in rushing touchdowns (17), and tied for sixth in average yards per rushing attempt (4.0).

In the 1969 NFL playoffs, Cleveland first played the Dallas Cowboys on December 28, 1969.

Johnson played in, but did not start, the game, as the Browns defeated Dallas 38-14.

The following week, on January 4, 1969, Cleveland advanced to play the Minnesota Vikings in the 1969 NFL championship game.

Johnson again played in, but did not start, the game, as the Browns lost to Minnesota 27-7.

On January 26, 1970, Johnson, along with defensive tackle Jim Kanicki and linebacker Wayne Meylan, was traded by Cleveland to the New York Giants in exchange for wide receiver Homer Jones.

The last time Cleveland did a big trade with the New York Giants for a WR was in 1970, G-Men got Ron Johnson, while Browns got Homer Jones. Jones replaced Paul Warfield, who CLE traded to Miami for #1 draft pick Browns spent on QB Mike Phipps (instead of Terry Bradshaw).

AAAAGH! pic.twitter.com/L6bYYHSmKy

Jon Perr (@Perrspectives) March 13, 2019

Johnson was surprised by the trade.

He said:

I was shocked. They told me in Cleveland they had to make the deal to facilitate the trade of Paul Warfield to Miami for a No. 1 draft pick. They said they didnt want to give me up but had no other choice. After I thought it over, I realized it was a good deal for me. I am better suited to be a halfback than a fullback as I was used at Cleveland. New York offers me great opportunities.

Johnson took advantage of the opportunity in New York and had an excellent season in 1970.

1970 #NYGiants preseason at Steelers: RB Ron Johnson nearly scored on this quick hitter up the middle. Johnson was acquired from the Browns and became the NYG first 1000 yard rusher in 1970 with 1027 yards where he also earned All Pro and Pro Bowl honors. #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/hLu36eor6S

BigBlueVCR (@BigBlueVCR) August 24, 2020

He started all 14 regular season games for the Giants in 1970.

Old DaysRon Johnson looks for an opening during an early 1970s Washington-Giants game at Yankee Stadium #NYG #NYGiants #WashingtonFootball #1970s #NFL pic.twitter.com/BRc2FJ5pBw

Tom's Old Days (@sigg20) November 2, 2020

Fran Tarkenton said:

Johnson is the best halfback in football today . . . period! Hes just a devastating football player.

Giants head coach Alex Webster added:

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The Life And Career Of Ron Johnson (Complete Story) - Browns Nation