Derrick Johnson

Derrick Johnson

In his book “The Road to Texas”, Mike Roach tells the story of Derrick Johnson in great detail. Longhorn great Rod Babers says of Derrick “there are a lot of guys I’ve seen in person that are freaks, but he might bein my top 10. He was a mutant. When we saw him out there as a freshman, we knew he was going to be a problem” for other teams to handle. While in high school, Johnson referred to himself as a “Texas Leaner” and expressed his desire to have the Longhorn emblem on his helmet. He believed that it represented the richness and tradition of Texas. Along with Cedric Benson, Johnson was a key player in the 2001 recruiting class.

01.09.2023 | Football TexasSports.com

Derrick Johnson was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame

The Longhorn Legend will be inducted into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in December.

One of the greatest defensive players in Texas Football history and a member of an elite group of Longhorns to earn consensus first-team All-American honors multiple times, Derrick Johnson (2001-04) was selected to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2023, the National Football Foundation announced Monday. The Nagurski and Butkus Award winner and NFL first-round draft pick will be the 25th Longhorn inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“I’m truly overwhelmed, humbled and so grateful to be selected for the College Football Hall of Fame,” Johnson said. “From the time I came to Texas, I remember the displays in our football building of the Hall of Famers, and now being a part of that special group is an absolute dream come true. Seeing the names of all of the honorees in this class and knowing the rich tradition and history of Longhorn Legends in the Hall of Fame, honestly, I’m pretty speechless right now. Of course, I couldn’t have done this on my own, and I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way, especially Coach Brown for bringing me to Texas and providing me the opportunity to be a Longhorn. I was fortunate to have so many great teammates and coaches during my career, and without them, none of this would be possible. This great honor is because of them and my family, who have supported me through thick and thin. They all have a piece of this, and I’m beyond grateful for everyone that made it happen.”

With the addition of Johnson, 22 Longhorn players have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The others are: Hub Bechtol (1944-46/Class of 1991), Earl Campbell (1974-77/Class of 1990), Doug English (1972-74/Class of 2011), Chris Gilbert (1966-68/Class of 1999), Jerry Gray (1981-84/Class of 2013), Johnnie Johnson (1976-79/Class of 2007), Malcolm Kutner (1939-41/Class of 1974), Bobby Layne (1944-47/Class of 1968), Roosevelt Leaks (1972-74/Class of 2005), Bud McFadin (1948-50/Class of 1983), Bob McKay (1968-69/Class of 2017), Steve McMichael (1976-79/Class of 2009), Tommy Nobis (1963-65/Class of 1981), James Saxton (1959-61/Class of 1996), Harley Sewell (1950-52/Class of 2000), Kenneth Sims (1978-81/Class of 2021), Jerry Sisemore (1970-72/Class of 2002), Mortimer “Bud” Sprague (1923-24/Class of 1970), Harrison Stafford (1930-32/Class of 1975), Ricky Williams (1995-98/Class of 2015) and Vince Young (2003-05/Class of 2019). Three Longhorn coaches – Dana Bible (1937-46/Class of 1951), Mack Brown (1998-2013/Class of 2018) and Darrell Royal (1957-76/Class of 1983) – have also been inducted.

“Watching Derrick Johnson compete for our Texas Longhorns was such a joy,” said Longhorn Legend and College Football Hall of Famer Johnnie Johnson. “He was a tenacious competitor, a truly dominant defender and spectacular player who made big plays from sideline-to-sideline from his linebacker position. DJ was such a critical leader on our defense, played a crucial role in leading our Longhorns to a great deal of success, and on top of that, always represented The University of Texas in a first-class manner. He carried that on to a long and productive career in the NFL. As one of college football’s all-time greats, he’s very worthy of this honor, and I want to personally congratulate DJ. It’s always special seeing fellow alums joining the College Football Hall of Fame family.”

One of Texas Football’s most-decorated defensive players in the program’s long and storied history, Johnson was the winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation’s top defensive player) and Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker) as a senior at UT in 2004. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-American (2003-04), a two-time finalist and three-time semifinalist for the Butkus Award, as well as a finalist for the Bednarik Award (nation’s top defensive player), Lombardi Award (nation’s top lineman) and Lott Trophy (defensive player of the year) in 2004. He also finished 12th in the 2004 Heisman Trophy balloting and was listed among the top 10 finalists for the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year, the only defensive player in both of those groups. Johnson was a unanimous first-team All-American selection in 2004 and that year’s Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, leading UT to an 11-1 record and a 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. He also was selected as the 2004 Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year.

“Sally and I are beaming from ear to ear and swelling with pride with the news of Derrick Johnson being selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame,” said College Football Hall of Fame Coach Mack Brown, Johnson’s coach at Texas. “It’s so hard to put into words the impact he had on our teams at Texas, the joy we’re feeling for him and his family, and the many reasons why he’s so worthy of this honor. From the day we started recruiting DJ as a high schooler and spent time with him and his family, we knew he was a truly special one. He sure did live up to all of our hopes and expectations and much, much more. His success as a player is well documented, the highlights and stats are spectacular, and all he’s done on the football field make him an easy choice as a Hall of Famer. But what made him one of the all-time great players and people was how he led, the way he played, and who he is as a person. DJ was as humble, unselfish and coachable as they come. He was a remarkable player and teammate, but he was equally as impactful on campus and in the community and continues give back through his foundation. He’s just a Hall of Famer in every way, and Sally and I can’t wait to celebrate him when he’s officially inducted in Las Vegas in December.”

From 2001-04, Johnson played in 50 career games (40 starts) during a four-year stretch that saw the Horns win 11 games three times, at least 10 games all four years and post an overall record of 43-8 (27-5 Big 12). UT won three bowl games, finished in the top 12 nationally all four years and among the top six on three occasions. Johnson tallied 458 career tackles (No. 3 on UT’s career list at the time), 280 solo tackles (No. 4), 65 tackles for loss (No. 1), 10.5 sacks, 39 QB pressures, 30 pass breakups (UT record for LBs), nine interceptions (UT record for LBs), 11 forced fumbles (T-No. 3) and five fumble recoveries. He started all 12 games as a senior and posted 130 tackles (73 solo), 19 TFLs and an NCAA-record nine caused fumbles. As a junior, he started all 13 games and recorded 125 tackles, 20 TFLs and four interceptions, tying his own UT record for linebackers. In 2002, Johnson started all 13 games and registered 120 tackles, 13 TFLs and picked off four passes – the first time he set the benchmark for Longhorn linebackers. Johnson played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2001, including a pair of starts. He earned National Freshman of the Year and first-team Freshman All-America honors, as well as being named the Big 12 co-Defensive Freshman of the Year and the Defensive MVP of the Holiday Bowl.

A true Longhorn Legend.

And now…a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Congrats @superdj56 ???? pic.twitter.com/jZrJPvYSx4

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 9, 2023

Johnson went on to be drafted by Kansas City with the 15th overall pick (first round) of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played 13 full seasons in the league, all of them with the Chiefs, before finishing his career with the Oakland Raiders in 2018. Johnson signed a one-day contract with Kansas City on May 2, 2019, in order to retire as a Chief. Johnson finished his career as the franchise’s all-time leader in tackles (1,262), while adding 14 interceptions, 27.5 sacks and 40 quarterback hits. He played in 188 career NFL games with 170 starts, was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2011 and a four-time Pro Bowler (2011-13, 2015).

After his NFL career, Johnson returned to school to complete his degree at UT. A student in the College of Education, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Youth and Community Studies in the Fall of 2020.

A native of Waco, Texas, Johnson starred at Waco High School, where he was a Parade All-American who once posted 30 tackles in a high school game. He was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2015, was enshrined in the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor in 2019, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2020, and most recently, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

Retired and residing in Austin with his family, Johnson continues to be very active in the community, much like playing days in Austin, as well as the NFL. He founded and currently serves as the director of the Defend the Dream Foundation which provides low-income and inner-city youth the opportunities and resources to reach their full potential in school and in life. The foundation is currently helping transform multiple libraries and elementary schools in the Austin area into reading areas called DJ’s Discovery Dens, and he has donated more than 25,000 children’s books.

The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 5, 2023, at the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas. Johnson will also be recognized during a yet to be determined home game during the 2023 football season with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments. His accomplishments will be forever immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, and each inductee will receive a custom ring created by Jostens, the official and exclusive supplier of NFF rings.