NFL Remembers Jim Johnson as Great Innovator, Great Man

While Tony Dungy was popularizing the Tampa 2 defense, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was proving that there was another way to succeed.

Dungy's Tampa 2 was all about preventing the big play. Put two safeties deep, run a middle linebacker in between them and have the cornerbacks play zone. Dungy figured that if he made teams move slowly down the field, eventually they would make a mistake. Johnson's style was much more aggressive. He figured that he could force those mistakes on any play by confusing teams with pressure from every angle and every level of the defense.

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The Tampa 2 was built around having three defenders deep to prevent any receiver from getting behind the defense. Johnson's defense was built around making sure the quarterback didn't have time to throw deep. Instead of Cover 2, Johnson would often leave only a solitary safety, or sometimes no one, deep. But more often than not, his blitzes confused, confounded and battered quarterbacks. Up until now coordinators have been shut out of the Hall of Fame, but if they ever break down that wall, Johnson is one of the first who should be considered.

With his passing on Tuesday, players, coaches and officials around the league were quick to point out how much he will be missed both for what he did on the field and for his personality. The Eagles' front page has been replaced by a pictured of Johnson. Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie spoke for the entire organization in a statement:

"For ten years, Jim Johnson was an exceptional coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but more importantly, he was an outstanding human being. As an integral part of the Eagles family, Jim epitomized the traits of what a great coach should be – a teacher, a leader, and a winner. He positively touched the lives of so many people in and out of the Eagles organization. It was easy to feel close to him. Our hearts go out to his wife, Vicky and his wonderful family. We will miss him greatly."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Johnson ranks among the all-time great coordinators.

"Jim Johnson was a beloved coach who spent 22 years in the NFL as one of the best defensive coaches in league history. He was a teacher to many players both on and off the field and devoted his life to the game of football. He had a positive influence on scores of young men and leaves behind a wonderful legacy."

When Ravens head coach John Harbaugh moved from the Eagles' special teams coach to their secondary coach in 2007, he explained that all he wanted to do was sit down and learn from the master. Just a year later, he was named the head coach of the Ravens, thanks in large part to what he learned from Johnson. In a release today, he echoed those thoughts.

"I loved Jim Johnson. This is a sad day for so many people who were touched by this great man. Ingrid and I, the Harbaugh family, and the Ravens have Jim's wife, Vicky, and the Johnson family in our thoughts and prayers. Jim was a tremendous teacher of football and life. He had a special ability to bring out the best in people while getting you to see the best in yourself. He saw potential and deve loped it. He made me believe I could coach at this level. In football, he was a pioneering and brilliant strategist, changing the way defense is played in the NFL. For me, he was a father-type mentor, and above all, a cherished friend. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. I will miss him so much."

Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is another successful defensive coach who learned by coaching under Johnson.

"Jim was most certainly a very good man; a very decent man. He was definitely a mentor, not just for me but for several guys in the league right now that are coordinators and head coaches. He was just a real caring person. He gave me my start and my opportunity. He took the time to teach me. I'm extremely grateful for everything he did for me.

"Leslie (Frazier), Steve (Spagnolo) and I ... we laugh about our time with Jim all the time. We were the three young guys on the staff and Jim was hard on us. I remember just after I was hired in Philadelphia, I had just finished signing my contract and he walked into my office and closed the door. He said, 'Listen. I'm an old linebacker coach. Don't take anything personal when I come in and take over your meetings, when I take over your drills. I can't help myself. Don't take it personal when I'm hard on you because I'm just trying to teach you.' That's exactly what he did. You take a step back and look at the success we've all had. The direct correlation was Jim Johnson."

If there was a player who seemed to be tailor-made for Johnson's go-for-broke defensive schemes it was safety Brian Dawkins. He was able to play the run like a linebacker, blitz like a defensive end and also start in pass coverage -- he had 21 sacks and 34 interceptions for the Eagles before leaving this past offseason.

"This is a sad, sad day for myself and my Philadelphia family. Jim was tailor-made to coach in Philadelphia. He was a tough coach who wasn't afraid to let you know how he was feeling, but at the same time, he cared about us deeply. He was an absolute blessing to me with the way he used me on the football field and allowed me to show my God-given ability. His confidence in me meant so much-he looked to create new defenses each week to utilize my talents. I have been praying for him every day, and those prayers won't stop now. I'll be praying for his family and their comfort during this difficult time."

Not many assistant coaches have made the impact that Johnson did during his career, and very few made a name for themselves to the point where the league would stop for a minute to reflect on their career at the time of their passing. But in Johnson's case, he is one of the rare coordinators who was truly beloved by fans. It's worth noting that on the night that Brett Favre has apparently decided to stay retired, it's Johnson's passing, not Favre's decision, that is near the top of Twitter's trending topics.