Charles Johnson

Charles Everett Johnson (January 3, 1972 – July 17, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes, earning All-American honors in 1993. He played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Buffalo Bills from 1994 to 2002.

Early life Johnson was born in San Bernardino, California, on January 3, 1972. He attended Cajon High School in his hometown, and was awarded the Ken Hubbs award for 1990. He then studied at the University of Colorado Boulder where he played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. He also served as president of the Black Student Alliance and ran unsuccessfully for student body president, after being disqualified on account of being a continuing education student who had not yet paid his university fees. However, his name stayed on the ballot because the voting lists could not be changed in time and he received the most votes, with the result annulled by the university's election commissioner three days later. Johnson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round (17th overall selection) of the 1994 NFL draft.

Professional career

Johnson made his NFL debut with the Steelers on September 4, 1994, at the age of 22, in a 26–9 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He played in 16 games (9 starts) during his rookie season and made the seventh-longest reception in the NFL that year (84 yards). During the 1996 season, Johnson finished tenth in the league in yards per reception (16.8),

In his first season with the Eagles, Johnson was tied for the most safeties in the NFL (1). After being released by the team in April 2001,