| No. 23 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | September 16, 1963 Harvey, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Thornton Township (IL) | ||||||||
| College: | Wisconsin | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1985 / round: 1 / pick: 11 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Richard James Johnson (born September 16, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for eight seasons with the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL). He was an All-American and All-Big Ten cornerback in 1984 for the Wisconsin Badgers. He was selected by the Oilers in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft with the 11th overall pick.[1]
Johnson played for the Wisconsin from 1982 to 1984, and as a senior he helped lead the 1984 Badgers team to the Hall of Fame Bowl. That season, he set the school single-season record with 6 blocked kicks — including three in a single game against Missouri — as well as 3 interceptions, 7 passes defended, and 4 tackles for a loss. In total, 16 players from that team went onto play in the NFL, and Johnson was one of three first-round draft picks along with Al Toon and Darryl Sims.[2]
Johnson played for the Oilers from 1985 to 1992, appearing in 98 NFL games. He finished his career with 15 interceptions, and had an 8-interception season in 1990.[3]