Cornelius Johnson (offensive lineman)

Cornelius Johnson
No. 61, 76
Position:Offensive guard
Personal information
Born:(1943-06-12)June 12, 1943
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Died:July 11, 2017(2017-07-11) (aged 74)
Prescott, Arizona, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Richmond (VA)
College:Virginia Union
NFL draft:1967 / round: 8 / pick: 204
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:74
Games started:7
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Cornelius Otis Johnson (June 12, 1943 – July 11, 2017) was a former American football offensive guard who played six seasons with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Colts in the eighth round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. He played college football at Virginia Union University and attended Richmond High School in Richmond, Virginia.[1] He was a member of the Colts team that won Super Bowl V.[2] He was also a member of the Harrisburg Capitols and The Hawaiians.

Professional career

Johnson was selected by the Baltimore Colts with the 204th pick in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft.[1] He played in 74 games, starting seven, for the Colts from 1967 to 1973.[3] He also played for the Harrisburg Capitols of the Atlantic Coast Football League in 1967.[4] The Capitols served as Baltimore's farm club.[5][6] The Colts won Super Bowl V against the Dallas Cowboys on January 17, 1971.[7]

Johnson played in nineteen games for The Hawaiians of the World Football League from 1974 to 1975.[8]

Personal life

Johnson wore a prosthetic leg after being told, upon examination of a leg injury, that he had to have his lower right leg amputated due to complications from diabetes and MRSA. He was also blind in his right eye and partially blind in his left due to a stroke. He and his wife previously owned a helicopter business in Hawaii. Johnson had served as a mentor to student athletes in Prescott, Arizona ever since he arrived in the area during the late 1990s.

He died on July 11, 2017.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "CORNELIUS JOHNSON". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Stockmar, Steve (June 23, 2013). "The wise eyes of Cornelius Johnson have mentored Prescott student athletes for many years". The Daily Courier. Archived from the original on June 13, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  3. ^ "Cornelius Johnson". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "1967 Harrisburg Capitols". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  5. ^ "NELSON, ANDY". tshf.net. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  6. ^ "ONE DEFINITION OF "MINOR LEAGUE" FOOTBALL, PART TWO". helmethut.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  7. ^ "SUPER BOWL V". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  8. ^ "Cornelius Johnson". nasljerseys.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.