When Missouri Southern became a four-year institution in 1968, the first person to lead the Lions' football program was Jim Johnson. Johnson, 68, passed away Tuesday after a bout with cancer.
Johnson coached the Lions to a 2-8 record in 1968, their first year as a four-year program. A 1962 graduate of the University of Missouri, Johnson played two seasons with the Buffalo Bills and came to Southern in 1967.
From Southern, Johnson had stints at Drake, Indiana and Notre Dame, before two different stints in the United States Football League with Oklahoma and Jacksonville. He got his first NFL coaching assignment with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986. He then moved to Indianapolis and Seattle, before settling in as the defensive coordinator with the Eagles in 1999.
A veteran of 22 NFL seasons as a coach, Johnson's defense in Philadelphia has ranked as one of the best in the league over the past decade as he was widely regarded as one of the top defensive minds in football.
Johnson is survived by his wife, Vicky, two children, Scott and Michelle, and four grandchildren, Katie, Justin, Brandon, and Jax.
Johnson, whose attacking defenses helped the Eagles to one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC title games, has died. He was 68.
Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the team in May as he continued to battle a cancerous tumor on his spine. The Eagles announced his death on Tuesday afternoon.
From 2000-08, Johnson's Philadelphia defenses ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390). During his 10-year tenure, the Eagles made the playoffs seven times and he produced 26 Pro Bowl selections.
"This whole Eagles-Andy Reid regime here that's taken place wouldn't have been possible without Jim," said Andy Reid, who hired Johnson to be his defensive coordinator shortly after he got his first head coaching job with the Eagles in 1999.
"I'm not sure there's a person that I've met that isn't a Jim Johnson fan. He really represented everything this city is all about with his toughness and grit. That's the way he fought this cancer."
Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie praised Johnson for his leadership skills and the person he was.
"For 10 years, Jim Johnson was an exceptional coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but more importantly, he was an outstanding human being," Lurie said. "As an integral part of the Eagles family, Jim epitomized the traits of what a great coach should be — a teacher, a leader, and a winner ... It was easy to feel close to him."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell echoed Lurie's sentiments.
"He was a teacher to many players both on and off the field and devoted his life to the game of football," Goodell said in a statement. "He had a positive influence on scores of young men, and leaves behind a wonderful legacy."
On Sunday, the Eagles announced that Sean McDermott would replace Johnson. In his first news conference as coordinator, McDermott gave full credit to Johnson.
"What haven't I learned from Jim?" McDermott said. "I don't think it would be fair to Jim, in this setting, to try and limit in one statement, one press conference, the effect that Jim has had on my life."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
