Jimmy Johnson, one of the best cornerbacks in both 49ers and NFL history, died Wednesday night at age 86, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced.
Johnson’s family told the Pro Football Hall of Fame that he died at his Bay Area home after a lengthy illness.
Johnson played 16 seasons with the 49ers as their top draft pick in 1961, at No. 6 overall. His jersey (No. 37) is among a dozen retired by the franchise.
Only John Brodie played more seasons (17) with the 49ers than Johnson, whose tenure lasted as long as that of Jerry Rice, the only player in 49ers history to appear in more games (238 for Rice, 213 for Johnson).
“Jimmy embodied the essence of what it meant to be a 49er,” the team said in a statement. “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 was enshrined 30 years ago into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Jimmy Johnson was extraordinarily athletically talented,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement. “The 49ers enjoyed the luxury of using him on offense and defense early in his career to fill team needs. Once he settled in at left cornerback, he flourished.
“The notion that a ‘lockdown’ cornerback could cut the field in half for the opposition was true with Jimmy. Only rarely would other teams’ quarterbacks even look his direction, and more often than not regretted the decision if they challenged him.”
Johnson made the AP All-Pro first team three consecutive years, from 1970-71, while also making the Pro Bowl in those seasons, as well as in 1969 and 1974, primarily as the 49ers’ left cornerback.
“You have to be worked on, cornered in and cornered out to become as good as you can be,” Johnson said when he entered the Hall of Fame. “So actually I feel standing here today that I never reached that level, I never reached as good a football player as I could be. But thanks to God and inner talent I was able to present a picture to those individuals who were voting for the Hall of Fame, and my longevity and the level of game that I played from my rookie season to my last.
“That on this wondrous year of 1994 I’ve been given the opportunity, the glorious opportunity, to become a member of the most wonderful society: The National Football League Hall of Fame.”
Johnson recorded 47 interceptions in his 49ers career. He also scored two touchdowns, recovered seven fumbles, forced a fumble and a safety.
A two-way standout on UCLA’s football team (as well as an NCAA high-hurdle champion and broad jumper), Johnson did see some action for the 49ers offense, though a broken wrist before his rookie training camp delayed his two-way play.
Johnson had 34 receptions for 627 yards and four touchdowns in his second season, highlighted by an 80-yard touchdown against the Chicago Bears and an 181-yard outing against the Detroit Lions.
Johnson twice received the 49ers’ most prestigious honor, the Len Eshmont Award, for his courageous and inspirational play, winning it in 1969 and 1975.
His older brother, Rafer, was the 1960 Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon; he passed away in 2000, also at age 86. Rafer was his brother’s presenter for enshrinement in the Canton, Ohio hall.
“Rafer Johnson is in fact my hero and that is an amazing thing in itself,” Jimmy Johnson said when he was enshrined. “Most young men growing up usually have a hero in another town, another city, another country, and they will write to this individual, receive an autographed photo and then tack that photo up on the wall and worship that photo, play for that photo and get inspiration from that photo. No such problem for me.
“I had a brother living with me on a day-to-day basis that I was able to talk to, ask the pertinent questions, get the pertinent feedback and get corrected in my direction, if needed. I must say I must give brother Rafer credit for everything that I have accomplished in the field of athletics. And I just wish that we could split this trophy, this bust of myself, right down the middle because he surely deserves half of it.”
Jimmy Johnson graduated from Kingsburg High School in 1957. In 2022, Johnson was among 100 players selected for induction into the California High School Football Hall of Fame by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
