Tag: Bill Johnson

Chicago Bears set to pair Dennis Allen with former Saints defensive line coach

The Chicago Bears are set to add a former New Orleans Saints defensive line coach to the staff on Dennis Allen’s side of the ball:

The New Orleans Saints have another one of their former coaches joining a new NFL team, as defensive line coach Bill Johnson will be added to the Chicago Bears staff along with Dennis Allen. Johnson was a former Saints coach from 2009 to 2016, working with the defensive line, and ended up moving on to the Los Angeles Rams for 2017. He’s spent the time since coaching college football and working in the rebooted XFL.

Johnson had a tough time as the defensive line coach for the Saints, as the front four struggled immensely at times to contain opposing offenses. He was initially brought in under Gregg Williams and was retained as part of the staff that won Super Bowl XLIV for the Saints in the 2009 season. When it came down to it, his influence as a coach was less than stellar in the years to follow, but he did what he needed to do effectively to get a championship which is all that matters in the end.

Chicago will add him to a defensive staff that already brought in Allen, the former Saints head coach, this offseason as well. There are many Saints connections getting new jobs around the league this offseason, and Johnson just adds to that growing list.

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Eagles’ regular season countdown: Every player to wear No. 94 for Philadelphia

With Eagles training camp quickly approaching, we’re looking at every player to wear the No. 94 for Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Eagles will kick off their 2023 regular season against the New England Patriots on Sept. 10, now 79 days away.

From now until the start of the season, we’ll be counting down each day by revisiting the players who have worn that specific jersey number.

No. 94 is worn by veteran pass rusher Josh Sweat, who’ll look for double-digit sacks for the second straight year.

With less than 90 days until kickoff, here’s a look at every player to ever wear No. 94 for the Eagles (via Pro Football Reference):

Former Vols’ All-American offensive lineman Bill Johnson passes away

Former Vols’ All-American offensive lineman Bill Johnson passes away

Former Tennessee All-American offensive lineman Bill Johnson has passed away.

Johnson played for the Vols from 1955-57.

UT press release:

Former Tennessee All-American offensive lineman Bill Johnson has died. Johnson passed away at his home in Sparta, Tennessee on Sunday. He was 84.

Johnson, a three-year letterwinner for the Vols, helped usher in the Bowden Wyatt coaching era with three consecutive winning seasons and a SEC Championship. After a 6-3-1 season in 1955, Johnson was Wyatt’s starting guard in 1956 and 1957. The lineman helped vault Tennessee into the national spotlight during his junior year as the Vols finished a perfect 10-0 in the regular season and were crowned SEC champions before finishing the year ranked No. 2 in the nation.

As a senior, Johnson garnered national notoriety himself when he earned All-America and Academic All-America honors in 1957, the first UT player to accomplish that feat and one of just three to do so in program history. Johnson was also named first-team All-SEC in 1957 after helping lead the Orange and White to an 8-3 season that was capped by a 3-0 victory over No. 9 Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl.

Johnson served for two years in the Army after graduating from Tennessee and spent six years as a member of the Tennessee National Guard, where he earned the rank of first lieutenant. He was also a longtime banker, farmer and community leader in his hometown of Sparta.

Johnson returned to the University of Tennessee in 1972 and served on the university’s athletics board until 1996, including a stint as vice chairman starting in 1987. The former All-American was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.

Johnson leaves behind his wife, Rena, as well as three daughters, Cynthea Amason, Cathryn Rolfe and Carolyn Bronson.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 at Bilbrey Farms in Sparta, followed by a celebration of life service at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 at Duck Pond Manor in Sparta.