If you are a Giants fan and old enough to remember the two Super Bow championship teams of the Bill Parcells era, then surely you remember Pepper Johnson.
There are some things that most Giants fans could hardly forget. Before he began to really stand out for some of his field on the play, there was the image of him dancing with offensive lineman William Roberts in celebration after the Giants managed to win their first Super Bowl, in January of 1987. That was one of the most iconic images of a team that was actually kind of famous for knowing how to celebrate - perhaps a little too much, given the mediocre results of the two seasons that followed each of their two championship seasons during the Parcells era.
Pepper Johnson was just a rookie then, but when he got more playing time, he became a standout for the Big Blue defense, and became known more for some of his huge plays, perhaps the most famous one being his contribution to a goal line tackle that prevented the Bears from getting any points in the NFC Divisional playoff game in January of 1991. He lost his helmet on a big hit just a second or two before, but he did not hesitate to jump in and help make the fourth and goal stop, preserving a 10-0 lead for New York. Just a couple of plays before that, he rushed Chicago quarterback Mike Tomczac, and forced him to rush a pass, nullifying any opportunities there. The Giants would go on to win that game, 31-3, and that convincing win rejuvenated the Giants season, which had seemed to be faltering leading up to those playoffs. Big Blue would go on to squeak a win out at San Francisco against the dynasty 49ers, and then would just edge the Bills by a single point in a Super Bowl classic that is still considered by some to have been the greatest Super Bowls ever played.
Johnson was an All-Pro that season, which was obviously special for the Giants. He really made a splash, and John Madden and Pat Summerall spoke admiringly of him a few times from the broadcast booth that season. But he also took some hits, such as a vicious block that sent him flying against the Philadelphia Eagles, in what would wind up being the Giants first defeat after a franchise best 10-0 start on the season.
After earning two Super Bowl rings with the Giants, Johnson would rejoin his former defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, who was now head coach for the Cleveland Browns. Johnson also wound up playing for the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets, before becoming a coach, working again under Belichick, this time in New England. In his capacity, first as Inside Linebacker Coach from 2001-2003, and then as Defensive Line Coach from 2004 until 2011, Johnson helped coach the New England Patriots to five Super Bowls, and winning three more Super Bowl championship rings. He then became Defensive Line Coach for the Buffalo Bills and then the New York Jets.
When I was a kid, it seemed to me that some football players had really funny names. Names like Bubba Paris (San Francisco), Boomer Esiason (Cincinnati), and, of course, Pepper Johnson. He got that nickname from his grandmother after he put pepper on his breakfast cereal as a kid.
Johnson looks very good for his age. Really, he did not look much different than his playing days, with maybe just a bit of extra weight added on. It was a thrill to meet him, and I joked that the Giants defense could probably use him right now. He laughed.
He signed my helmet, a couple of books that other players had also signed, as well as a poster of the old Giants Stadium, and a few other small posters. Again, what a thrill!
Johnson was an All-Pro that season, which was obviously special for the Giants. He really made a splash, and John Madden and Pat Summerall spoke admiringly of him a few times from the broadcast booth that season. But he also took some hits, such as a vicious block that sent him flying against the Philadelphia Eagles, in what would wind up being the Giants first defeat after a franchise best 10-0 start on the season.
After earning two Super Bowl rings with the Giants, Johnson would rejoin his former defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, who was now head coach for the Cleveland Browns. Johnson also wound up playing for the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets, before becoming a coach, working again under Belichick, this time in New England. In his capacity, first as Inside Linebacker Coach from 2001-2003, and then as Defensive Line Coach from 2004 until 2011, Johnson helped coach the New England Patriots to five Super Bowls, and winning three more Super Bowl championship rings. He then became Defensive Line Coach for the Buffalo Bills and then the New York Jets.
When I was a kid, it seemed to me that some football players had really funny names. Names like Bubba Paris (San Francisco), Boomer Esiason (Cincinnati), and, of course, Pepper Johnson. He got that nickname from his grandmother after he put pepper on his breakfast cereal as a kid.
Johnson looks very good for his age. Really, he did not look much different than his playing days, with maybe just a bit of extra weight added on. It was a thrill to meet him, and I joked that the Giants defense could probably use him right now. He laughed.
He signed my helmet, a couple of books that other players had also signed, as well as a poster of the old Giants Stadium, and a few other small posters. Again, what a thrill!
Former New York Giants Linebacker Great Pepper Johnson (#52), Winner of Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV, Signing Autographs at the Stop and Shop in Mt Kisco, New York, October 20, 2018:
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