(old school snl "jack perkins" voice) In case you've been living in a cave ...
You may have heard of a defensive coordinator named Jim Johnson. Former quarterback of your Missouri Tigers. Long time defensive guru of the Philadelphia Eagles, arguably the NFC's best team the last 10 years.
(The 2000s Eagles are so much like the 1990s Chiefs. 7 playoff berths in the first 9 years of the decade. Only one losing season. And zero championships ... so far. Like I noted in the "fake mailbag" a couple posts ago, they're my pick pre-training camp to win it all).
I never met Mr. Johnson, outside of any pleasantries exchanged at the Arrowhead Overlook the four times he brought his defenses in to town to play the Chiefs.
And as a result, I don't want this to be some sappy, post-death tribute that anyone and everyone will be posting over the next few days. I'm not an Eagles fan. At all.
Rather, I just want to focus on what might be one of his crowning achievements, at least in my eyes.
Forget the fact that his defense ... well, I'll let the Eagles official tribute article do the talking:
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From 2000-08, Johnson's units ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390), 3rd down efficiency (34.0%) and red zone touchdown percentage (43.9%), and fourth in fewest points allowed (17.7 per game). During his 10-year tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles earned seven playoff berths, five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance (following the 2004 season).
As the Eagles' defensive chief, Johnson's defense has produced 26 Pro Bowl selections: Brian Dawkins (7), Troy Vincent (5), Jeremiah Trotter (4), Hugh Douglas (3), Lito Sheppard (2), Asante Samuel (1), Trent Cole (1), Michael Lewis (1), Corey Simon (1), and Bobby Taylor (1).
Four of his defensive assistants have gone on to successful careers with other NFL franchises: Steve Spagnuolo (head coach of the St. Louis Rams), John Harbaugh (head coach of the Baltimore Ravens), Ron Rivera (defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers) and Leslie Frazier (defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings).
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Forget the obvious.
What stands out to me, is what only a Chiefs fan could focus on.
4-0.
Johnson's record as a defensive coordinator at Arrowhead.
And he never coached a down for the Kansas City Chiefs in that capacity.
One of the defeats, in early December of the lost 2001 rebuilding season, was perfectly understandable. The Eagles were on their way to the first of four straight AFC Title Game appearances (they would lose in St. Louis to the Rams 23-20). The Chiefs were going nowhere at 2-8. A predictable loss.
The other three? Arguably three of the most gut-wrenching defeats of the last 15 years. Because in all three, the Chiefs had the lead. In all three, Johnson made the adjustments. And stole victories from games he had no business winning.
Worse yet, as a Chiefs fan, all three defeats either kept the Chiefs out of the playoffs, or ended a playoff run:
* 1996: the least "painful" of the three. Johnson's Colts rolled into Arrowhead at 7-7, needing to win out to reach the playoffs for the third straight year. The Chiefs entered at 9-5, simply needing to hold serve at home to clinch a playoff berth.
Colts 24, Chiefs 19, on a brilliant goal to go stand with the game, and ultimately the postseason, on the line.
After another Indy win (over the Super Bowl bound Patriots) and another Chiefs loss (to the playing for nothing Bills), the math was simple. Colts in. Chiefs out.
* 1995: shockingly, this one didn't bug me near as much as the remaining defeat. And I do mean "shockingly". It is NO secret to anyone who reads this site, or knows me, that the 1995 Chiefs are my single favorite all time team. Ever. I have never loved a team, or rooted as hard for a team, as I did for that collection of overachievers. That team had 5 win talent, maybe 6 if they caught a break here or there. They went 13-3. They brought me more happiness and joy than any Chiefs team before or since in my lifetime.
They authored not one, not two, not three, but FOUR freaking miracles at home that season. Rallying from down 17-3 to the Giants with 4 minutes to play to win in overtime. Rallying from down 17-3 to the Raiders a week later to win on James Hasty's INT TD in overtime. Mark Collins scooping up the most unbelievable fumble in Chiefs history to win a Sunday nighter over the Oilers.
And of course, my favorite play in NFL history, set up by overcoming a 24-17 deficit with 1:08 to play:
(al) the rookie vanover
(frank) boy did he loft that one!
(al) he fields at the 14 yard line ...
(frank) uh oh!
(al) Vanover! Up past the 30!
(frank) he's gone
(al) Vanover is almost gone and now ... he ... is ... OFFICIALLY GONE!
(dan) NO FLAGS!
(frank) we've been talking about him all night!
(dan) NO FLAGS! THIS GAME'S OVER!
(note: Sweet Jesus, I have NEVER cried as much as the finish to a Chiefs game as I did that night. October 9, 1995. Until and unless the Chiefs reach a Super Bowl, I doubt I'll ever cry as much as I did that night in pure happiness and joy. I'm trying to figure out how to post the audio of Frank, Al and Dan's call. I'll figure this thing out eventually, the call is that freaking awesome. To say nothing of the 250 plus other huge plays I have downloaded on mp3 that should be relived and loved by Chiefs fans that read this ...)
To say nothing of rolling the donkeys in the snow at Real Mile High. Of going 8-0 in the division for the first time in franchise history. Of winning another incredible comeback game by the Bay, as the raiders became the first (and so far, only) team in post-merge NFL history to open 8-1 and not make the playoffs.
So yeah, I loved that team. 1995 Chiefs. Favorite of all time.
And Jim Johnson's brilliance (combined with lin elliott's ... uuh, what's the opposite of brilliance?) ended the dream season.
Colts 10, Chiefs 7.
The reason this defeat in the divisional playoffs doesn't bug me as much as Johnson's most amazing win at Arrowhead, is probably because I fully expected the Steelers to roll us the following Sunday. But Mr. Johnson denied me my one biggest unfulfilled fantasy in life (to attend an AFC Title Game at Arrowhead) with this win. And ended my favorite Chiefs season to boot.
(And yes, it scares me too that my "biggest unfulfilled fantasy in life" is an as-yet unplayed Chiefs game. You'd think a couple porn stars showing love and affection on a certain part of my body at the same time would be much, much higher than some football game. And yet, its not. I scare myself sometimes, I gotta be honest).
Anyways, moving on. The toughest defeat of them all:
Eagles 37, Chiefs 30, week 4 2005.
This one was shaping up to be one of the greatest days of the Vermeil era. 3:15 national broadcast on the first Sunday in October. It was 90 plus degrees and not a cloud in the sky. The Chiefs and Eagles were both 2-1, a battle of early Super Bowl contenders.
Only, it wasn't a battle for 17 minutes.
The Chiefs led 23-6 with an extra point pending barely into the second quarter. Arrowhead was rocking. It was neat. And then, catastrophe.
Lawrence Tynes shanked the extra point. OK, so be it. Still up 17 and the game's barely begun.
Five turnovers later, the Eagles led 37-23 before a late meaningless touchdown made the score respectable.
To come into that stadium, that freaking nuthouse, going crazy, down 17 ... and somehow run off 31 unanswered on the strength of forcing one of the best offenses in the league to whiz all over itself?
Job well done. So well done, that I didn't make it into work until Wednesday. I couldn't handle this defeat, which ultimately cost the Chiefs the final wildcard berth that instead went to the Steelers (who only wound up running the table and winning one for the thumb).
I'm sure this rambled and you've probably abandoned me by now, but the NFL lost a great one tonight. Anyone who is 4-0 as a defensive coordinator at Arrowhead, has my respect. Rest in peace Mr. Johnson. You earned it.
Even if you were a Missouri Tiger ...
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