Former UCLA track star Jimmy Johnson passed away at the age of 86 on Wednesday. Johnson was known in Westwood as a two-sport athlete and was part of the UCLA Athletic and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Johnson was a high hurdler and long jumper for the track team, and a wingback and defensive back for the football team. He carried the football 39 times for 290 yards and caught 28 passes for 543 yards in his UCLA career. Johnson scored four touchdowns as well.
Johnson is most known in college for his 65-yard touchdown against Utah in the 1959 season. He was the sixth overall draft pick in the 1961 NFL Draft He later went on to play 16 seasons in the league, on the defensive side. compiled 47 career interceptions and was voted to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1970’s.
In 1994 he received his yellow jacket as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We remember Jimmy Johnson, a @UCLAAthletics and @NFL Hall of Famer and member of the legendary Johnson family. 💙🕊️💛 pic.twitter.com/4zDzxlMt3v
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) May 9, 2024