Philadelphia’s long time defensive coordinator known for teaching his team to attack offenses today lost his fight against cancer

SCOTT JACOBS

On the same day that one of the NFL’s biggest stars announced what one would assume is his “official retirement,” brilliant defensive genius Jim Johnson, notorious for his complex defensive schemes and blitz packages, officially lost his bout with cancer.

It was well known that Johnson was sick, but I had no idea that he only had days left to live, after the Eagles officially named Sean McDermott their new defensive coordinator.  Johnson was treated for melanoma way back in 2001, and it appeared that he had defeated it. But this past January Johnnson began complaining of back pains in the press box while coaching the Eagles defense to the NFC Championship game. What started as discomfort soon turned out to be the disease that ended his life.

Back in May, Johnson was strong enough to coach at Eagles mini camp, where he called the shots from a motorized scooter.  But that camp would be his final one, his health failing, and his time short, he left the team in an effort to beat the cancerous tumor that had taken ahold of his spine.

Today he passed away.  He was 68.

The term great coach gets thrown around a lot, but Johnson’s defensive brilliance spoke for itself.  In 10 seasons with the Eagles, his defense produced 26 Pro Bowlers, and the Eagles were usually amongst the NFC’s elite.

He was more well known than many head coaches around the league.

And deservedly so.

He was great at what he did, and truly was a class act in the process.

The NFL lost more than a coach today.  They lost a great person too.

Photo: Getty

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