Pete Johnson

Pete Johnson (born Willie James Hammock; March 2, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 1977 NFL draft.

Early life Born in Fort Valley, Georgia and raised by his great-grandparents, Johnson attended Peach County High School for three years where he played football. Upon the death of his great-grandfather, he moved to New York to live with his mother where he graduated from Long Beach High School in Long Beach, New York, playing football for his senior season. He finished his career at Ohio State with 2,308 rushing yards and a school record 58 touchdowns (also a Big Ten Conference record). His 348 points was a Buckeyes' record until surpassed by kicker Mike Nugent's 356 points 2004.

In 2000, Johnson was selected for the Buckeyes All-Century Team, and he was inducted into the Ohio State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007, presented during halftime of the Akron game on September 8.

Professional career A bruising runner and competent blocker, Johnson was a mainstay in the Bengals backfield. He was the team's leading rusher for all seven seasons he played for them, and scored 12 or more rushing touchdowns in three different seasons. His best season was in 1981, where he made his only Pro Bowl selection. Johnson set career highs in rushing (1,077 yards), receptions (46), receiving yards (320) and touchdowns (16), leading the team to a with home field advantage for the

In the postseason, Johnson helped the team record their first ever playoff win by rushing for 45 yards, catching 3 passes for 23 yards, and scoring a touchdown in the Bengals' divisional victory over the Buffalo Bills. In the AFC title game (known in NFL lore as the Freezer Bowl), Johnson rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown, while also catching a 14-yard reception as the team defeated the high-scoring San Diego Chargers to earn their first Super Bowl appearance. Cincinnati lost Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Silverdome to the San Francisco 49ers, who limited Johnson to just 36 rushing yards and 8 receiving yards.

In 1984, Johnson was traded to the Chargers in exchange for running back James Brooks. He left Cincinnati as their all-time leader in rushing yards (5,421), touchdowns (70), and second all-time scorer with 420 points. Johnson spent the first three games of the 1984 season with Chargers and spent the final 13 games with Miami before retiring after the season ended.

In his eight NFL seasons, Johnson rushed for 5,626 yards, caught 175 passes for 1,334 yards, and scored 82 touchdowns (76 rushing, 6 receiving); at the time of his retirement, he was sixth in NFL history in rushing touchdowns, and as of , he ranks 25th.

Johnson has an NFL-record three straight games with at least one receiving and one rushing touchdown.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles GP GS Att Yds Avg Y/G Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum FR 1977 CIN 14 9 153 585 3.8 41.8 65 4 5 49 9.8 21 0 1 1 1978 CIN 16 10 180 762 4.2 47.6 50 7 31 236 7.6 34 0 4 2 1979 CIN 16 13 243 865 3.6 54.1 35 14 24 154 6.4 15 1 6 1 1980 CIN 12 8 186 747 4.0 62.3 57 6 21 172 8.2 28 1 2 1 1981 CIN 16 16 274 1,077 3.9 67.3 39 12 46 320 7.0 33 4 4 1 1982 CIN 9 9 156 622 4.0 69.1 21 7 31 267 8.6 25 0 1 1 1983 CIN 11 8 210 763 3.6 69.4 16 14 15 129 8.6 18 0 2 11984 SD 3 0 19 46 2.4 15.3 7 3 2 7 3.5 7 0 0 0 MIA 13 0 68 159 2.3 12.2 9 9 – – – – – 1 2Career 110 73 1,489 5,626 3.8 51.1 65 76 175 1,334 7.6 34 6 21 10

Drug charges In , Johnson and another Bengals player testified in exchange for immunity from prosecution that they had purchased cocaine from a Cincinnati plumber, and he was suspended by the NFL for four games. In 1987, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on four cocaine-related charges—and at the time of his indictment, he was selling cars in Miami, according to The New York Times archive; he was found not guilty by a Columbus jury in February 1988.