Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
1974, 1975 and 1976 Rose Bowl Games
2007 Inductee
Sharing a backfield with fellow Rose Bowl Hall of Fame member Archie Griffin, Johnson’s best Rose Bowl Game performance came in his only win in 1974. He scored three touchdowns and ran for 90 yards in a 42–21 victory over USC.
The following two years, Johnson’s Buckeyes returned to Pasadena, losing to USC in 1975 and to UCLA in 1976. Johnson ran for a total of 103 yards and one touchdown in those games.
Johnson went on to an eight-year NFL career in which he became the Cincinnati Bengals’ all-time leader in rushing yards (since surpassed) and touchdowns before he was traded to the San Diego Chargers. He helped the Bengals to their first-ever playoff win as a franchise in 1981 and led them to the Super Bowl that season.
