Bob McFlurry with Sports:
Jim Johnson and Andy Reid came to Philadelphia together in 1999 and began a partnership which would last for the next 10 years. 10 years that included 5 NFC Championships, a Super Bowl appearance and as arguably as dominant a defense in the league for that time period. 2nd in sacks and 5th in scoring defense and sending 25 plus defensive players to the Pro Bowl.
What’s lost in the Eagles decade of success is exactly what we lost yesterday, Jim Johnson. Yes Jim got some credit for being a great and innovative defensive coordinator but Andy Reid as Head Coach would get most of the credit. Andy Reid intimated yesterday in the news conference announcing Johnson’s death that Jim was as much a part of the success of the Eagles as anyone else in the organization. I may go one step further and say he was more important than Andy Reid to the Eagles.
In the early part of the 2000’s, the Eagles defense (along with exceptional Field Goal % from David Akers) kept them in and won them many games. Guys like Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, Brian Dawkins, Hugh Douglas and Jerimiah Trotter were more responsible for W’s than the offense (sorry D-Nabb). Having the 5th best scoring defense in the league for the decade can hide a lot of inconsistencies on offense and there were inconsistencies early on (though not a lot of talent besides McNabb and Staley on the Offensive side of the ball). Point being that the Eagles won and they won ugly early on in Johnson’s tenure.
A turnover on the defensive side in 2003 when he lost middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and in 2004 when Bobby Taylor, and Troy Vincent were replaced and Jim Johnson didn’t lose a beat, going to the NFC championship and Super Bowl those seasons. Though after Trotter left the defensive run stopping was somewhat suspect with Barry Gardner, Levon Kirkland and undersized Mark Simenau.
He chose to stay in Philadelphia as one of the highest paid coordinators in the league instead of becoming a head coach where he consistently made offenses look confused and bewildered from pressure. A bend-don’t break philosophy that limited bug plays from opponents and while the defense would occasionally misfire, Johnson’s defenses speak for themselves. Brian Dawkins called him tailor-made to coach in Philadelphia and many other players and coaches called him instrumental in their careers.
A defensive mind that should probably be more beloved in Philadelphia than Buddy Ryan. A guy that carried himself as a gentleman and treated his players as men and not employees. A guy who drew up blitzes on cocktail napkins at hotel bars. A guy who got more out of his players than they knew they had. A guy that has a coaching tree that will someday rival Bill Walsh it seems and from what I’ve gathered one of the finer human beings on the planet for 68 or so years.
For a working class town Jim Johnson is your working class hero on the sidelines and someone not soon forgotten.