Eagles Defensive Guru Jim Johnson Dies

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles' longtime defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has died after a battle with cancer. He was 68.

Johnson took an indefinite leave of absence in May to continue treatment for a cancerous tumor on his spine. The Eagles announced his death on Tuesday afternoon.

His attacking defenses helped the Eagles to one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC title games.

"As coaches, most of us have been on different staffs where there might be a conflict between the offense and defense. There was never that. It was all about winning and that's all he cared about," Coach Andy Reid told reporters at training camp at Lehigh University.

“For ten years, Jim Johnson was an exceptional coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but more importantly, he was an outstanding human being,” Eagles Chairman Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “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."

Johnson was hired by head coach Andy Reid to be defensive coordinator in January 1999 after 22 years as an NFL assistant coach, according to the Eagles Web site.

Teams around the league feared playing against his aggressive, blitzing defensive schemes.

According to the Eagles, Johnson's defenses from 2000 to 2008 ranked second in the NFL in sacks, third-down efficiency, red-zone touchdown prevention and forced fumbles. They were fourth in fewest points allowed and opposing quarterback rating.

In his playing days, Johnson was a quarterback at Missouri Southern before being signed as a tight end by the Buffalo Bills and spending two seasons there.

He went on to coach at Missouri Southern, Drake, Indiana and Notre Dame, where he was part of the 1977 national championship team. He also coached for a few years in the USFL before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 1986. His NFL resume also includes stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.

On Saturday, two days before training camp officially opened, the Eagles officially named one of Johnson's protégés, Sean McDermott, to replace him as defensive coordinator.

McDermott, 35, ran the defense in Johnson's absence after serving as secondary coach last year. He originally joined the Eagles in 1998 as a scouting administrative coordinator, and has served in various roles as an assistant on the defensive staff.

Speaking of Johnson on Monday, McDermott said he missed "just his presence" at times such as coming out of the locker room and during morning meetings.

"I mean, he had a way about him that you just loved being around the guy," McDermott said. "Our offices were next to each other for a number of years, so you miss that."

McDermott paid Johnson the ultimate compliment in describing the style of defense he wanted the Eagles to play: Johnson's style.

"There is one thing I know, and that is that this system, it works," McDermott said. "Jim has spent a considerable amount of time in his coaching career researching and finding things that work and finding things that didn't work, quite frankly, and I'm going to respect that and we're going to build on that. From there, we'll add wrinkles."

Johnson had been treated for melanoma in 2001.

In January, he complained of back pain and coached from the press box in the Eagles' playoff win over the New York Giants and in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship.

An MRI after the divisional playoff win against the Giants on Jan. 11 alerted doctors that something might be wrong. Following the Arizona loss, the team announced the cancer had returned and Johnson would undergo more treatments.

Johnson had recovered sufficiently to coach during the team's first post-draft minicamp in May. But he coached from a motorized scooter during practices and said he wasn't certain he'd be able to return for the season.

"Jim was tailor-made to coach in Philadelphia," said former Eagle and current Broncos Safety Brian Dawkins. "He was a tough coach who wasn’t afraid to let you know how he was feeling, but at the same time, he cared about us deeply."

Giants coach Tom Coughlin did not know Johnson, but admired him from afar.

"He was great to work with and for, and he had his priorities in order," Coughlin said. "His players loved to play for him and his coaches loved to coach with him. It is a sad day for the National Football League to lose somebody the quality of Jim Johnson. It is a sad note on which to start the season."

Eagles Team President Joe Banner spoke to the media about Johnson Tuesday evening.

"His family shared him with us through ups and downs and the emotions that are in us all who work together at the Eagles so close," Banner said. "We appreciate that of them, and we'll try to share this with them and, hopefully, take a little of the burden off their shoulders of the tough times ahead."

Johnson is survived by his wife, Vicky, two children and four grandchildren.