Randy Johnson (quarterback)
Randolph Klaus "Randy" Johnson (June 17, 1944 – September 17, 2009) was an American football player. He was the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in their inaugural season of 1966. He also had a brief career with the Green Bay Packers. In 1974, he played with The Hawaiians of the World Football League.[1][2]
 Johnson with Atlanta Falcons | |||||||||
| No. 11, 12, 16 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | June 17, 1944 San Antonio, Texas | ||||||||
| Died: | September 17, 2009 (aged 65) Brevard, North Carolina | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | San Antonio (TX) Sam Houston | ||||||||
| College: | Texas A&I | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1966 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16 | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1966 / Round: 4 / Pick: 27 (Denver Broncos) | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 1976 | |||||||||
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Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Johnson graduated from its Sam Houston High School in 1962. He played college football at Texas A&I in Kingsville (now Texas A&M–Kingsville),[3] teammates with guard Gene Upshaw.
Johnson entered the 1966 NFL draft, and became the first Texas A&I player to ever be selected in the first round (16th overall). Over his professional career, he completed 647 of 1,286 passes (a 50.3-percentage) for 51 touchdowns and 90 interceptions.[3]
Johnson spent the later years of his life in seclusion. Living in North Carolina, estranged from his family, destitute and reeling from injuries, he rented a small shed in the backyard of a couple's home. Haunted by failures he hid out only speaking to family on occasion, like holidays. He then eventually cut connection with family and most of the outside world. It was here in Brevard, North Carolina, he died at 65.[2]
References
- Pasquarelli, Len (May 16, 1999). "Falcons' first quarterback struggling to rebuild life". Tuscaloosa News. Alabama. Cox News Service. p. 8C.
- Hummer, Steve (October 5, 2009). "Ex-Falcon QB spent sad life in long, lonely end zone". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
- "S.A. native who became Atlanta Falcons' first QB dead at 65".
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
- World Football League players – Randy Johnson
- Randy Johnson at Find a Grave
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