The loss of former San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jimmy Johnson on Thursday led to quite a bit of confusion as some mistook the former UCLA star for Dallas Cowboys coaching legend Jimmy Johnson. The 80-year-old Hall of Fame member took to social media on Friday to let people know that he’s “still kicking” after some news outlets either confused him with the elder Johnson entirely, or attached a photo of him to their obituaries instead of the 49ers great.
“Jimmy Johnson HOF DB from 49ers passed away at age of 86…RIP..Jimmy Johnson HOF from Dallas Cowboys & FOX still kicking…” the Cowboys Ring of Honor member shared on Friday morning.
One can only imagine the number of calls and messages the former Dallas coach’s family fielded after the news came out. However, all is well for the Fox Sports analyst.
Former San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jimmy Johnson died at the age of 86, the team announced Thursday.
49ers Hall-of-Famer Jimmy Johnson passes
Johnson played his entire career with the 49ers from 1961-76 after being drafted No. 6 overall in the 1961 NFL Draft out of UCLA. A Pro Football Hall of Famer, he grabbed 47 career interceptions before retiring.
Johnson was named First-Team All-Pro four times and Second-Team All-Pro five times. A five-time pro Bowler, he was named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade team. His No. 37 jersey is retired by the 49ers organization and he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.
In addition to his 47 interceptions, he logged 615 return yards and two defensive touchdowns. The Pro Football Hall of Fame regards him as “one of the best man-to-man defenders in history.”
A Dallas native, Johnson moved to central California when he was just a boy and attended Kingsburg High School in Fresno County. His older brother Rafer was also a star at the same high school and UCLA, winning the Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in the decathlon.
Once Johnson attended UCLA after his brother, he played wingback and defensive back for the Bruins. In 1959 and ’60, he totaled 812 yards from scrimmage. Like his older brother, he was a multi-sport athlete, competing on the UCLA Track and Field Team. He won the NCAA 110-meter hurdles championship and was an All-American.
On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.
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