Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club Hall of Fame Member Ron Johnson Passes Away
7/10/2018 10:24:00 PM | Football, General
Johnson was a member of two Super Bowl winning teams and a former first-round draft pick
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University E-Club Hall of Famer Ron Johnson passed away Tuesday, July 10, at the age of 62. Johnson, who was inducted into the E-Club Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986, was a member of two Super Bowl winning teams with the Pittsburgh Steelers and a former first-round draft pick.
A 1979 graduate of EMU, Johnson was a two-time All-Mid-American Conference performer who gained third-team All-American honors on the 1977 Associated Press team. Johnson was a four-year starter in the defensive backfield and accounted for 339 total tackles in his career.
After finishing his senior season, Johnson played in both the East-West Shrine All-Star Game and also in the Senior Bowl post-season all-star game. He was voted the North squad's defensive MVP in the Senior Bowl.
A native of Detroit, Johnson was the first Huron ever drafted in the first round of the National Football League draft when he was the 22nd player in the country picked in the 1978 spring draft. Originally drafted by the Steelers as a cornerback, he played seven season in the NFL and all with Pittsburgh. He registered 13 interceptions during his career with four coming during his rookie season. Johnson also had an interception in the Steelers' 1978 AFC Championship game win over the Houston Oilers.
Johnson was also credited with three tackles in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XIII win over the Dallas Cowboys. At the time, he was the first rookie cornerback ever to start for the winning team of the Super Bowl and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team for his play. He would win a second Super Bowl with the Steelers the following season and was credited with one tackle and three passes defended in that win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Johnson was elected to EMU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986, and also was a member in the inaugural class of the MAC Hall of Fame in 1988.
The viewing is scheduled for Sunday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at James H. Cole Home for Funerals Northwest Chapel (16100 Schaefer Hwy. Detroit, MI 48235). The funeral is set for Monday, July 16, at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church (6080 West Grand Blvd. @ Grand River Detroit MI 48206). The celebration of life begins at 11 a.m. with internment at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.
A 1979 graduate of EMU, Johnson was a two-time All-Mid-American Conference performer who gained third-team All-American honors on the 1977 Associated Press team. Johnson was a four-year starter in the defensive backfield and accounted for 339 total tackles in his career.
After finishing his senior season, Johnson played in both the East-West Shrine All-Star Game and also in the Senior Bowl post-season all-star game. He was voted the North squad's defensive MVP in the Senior Bowl.
A native of Detroit, Johnson was the first Huron ever drafted in the first round of the National Football League draft when he was the 22nd player in the country picked in the 1978 spring draft. Originally drafted by the Steelers as a cornerback, he played seven season in the NFL and all with Pittsburgh. He registered 13 interceptions during his career with four coming during his rookie season. Johnson also had an interception in the Steelers' 1978 AFC Championship game win over the Houston Oilers.
Johnson was also credited with three tackles in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XIII win over the Dallas Cowboys. At the time, he was the first rookie cornerback ever to start for the winning team of the Super Bowl and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team for his play. He would win a second Super Bowl with the Steelers the following season and was credited with one tackle and three passes defended in that win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Johnson was elected to EMU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986, and also was a member in the inaugural class of the MAC Hall of Fame in 1988.
The viewing is scheduled for Sunday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at James H. Cole Home for Funerals Northwest Chapel (16100 Schaefer Hwy. Detroit, MI 48235). The funeral is set for Monday, July 16, at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church (6080 West Grand Blvd. @ Grand River Detroit MI 48206). The celebration of life begins at 11 a.m. with internment at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.
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