Tim Johnson

Tim Maurice Johnson (born February 7, 1978 in Fairfield) is a former NFL, CFL and NFL Europe linebacker.

Johnson graduated from Fairfield High School where he excelled in football, baseball and basketball. After high school he attended East Mississippi Junior College and then played two seasons for the Youngstown State Penguins in Youngstown, Ohio where he emerged as a star linebacker. He tallied 401 tackles (197 solo tackles and 204 assists) in 27 career games. He was a finalist for the NCAA Division 1-AA Defensive Player of the Year award and was edged out by Ed Hartwell in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award. Johnson was inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

Johnson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 and appeared in one game that season. He was released and picked up by the Chicago Bears for their practice squad. As a member of NFL Europe's Rhein Fire he made the All-NFL Europe team in 2002. He returned to the NFL with the Oakland Raiders from 2002 to 2005. He helped the 2002 Raiders advance to Super Bowl XXXVI, where he blocked a Tampa Bay punt which Oakland returned for a touchdown. Johnson peaked in the 2003 season with 38 combined tackles in 12 games. He returned to the Ravens for the 2006 season, but was cut and finished his career in 2009 with the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders.

Johnson and his wife, Schirin, have two children: Sorayiah and Talahni. They reside in Bessemer.

References

• "Tim Johnson" at the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame
• "Tim Johnson (linebacker)" (January 7, 2016) Wikipedia - accessed February 22, 2016