Ezra Johnson
Encyclopedia
Ezra Johnson is a retired American Football
defensive end
who played for the Green Bay Packers
, Indianapolis Colts
and Houston Oilers in a fifteen-year career that lasted from 1977 to 1991 in the National Football League (NFL)
.
Johnson played college football in Morris Brown College
in Atlanta, Georgia
and was drafted in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft
by the Packers. He was a one time Pro Bowl
er in 1978 in a season in which he unofficially made 20.5 sacks. He had an official career best of 14.5 quarterback sack
s in 1983 along with 107 tackles which is a team record for most by a defensive lineman in a single season. He played in 192 games in his career, making 55.5 quarterback sacks officially (99 with his unofficial totals added).
Johnson was most notable for eating a hot dog
on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of a 38–0 Packers' home preseason loss to the Denver Broncos
on August 30, 1980. Even though he was merely hungry and not insubordinate, he was fined $1,000 and required by then-general manager
/head coach
Bart Starr
to apologize to his teammates. Dissatisfied that the discipline was too lenient, defensive line coach Fred von Appen
resigned
in disgust five days after the incident.
Johnson was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
in 1997.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who played for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
and Houston Oilers in a fifteen-year career that lasted from 1977 to 1991 in the National Football League (NFL)
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Johnson played college football in Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College is a private, coed, liberal arts college located in the Vine City community of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and was drafted in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft
1977 NFL Draft
The 1977 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1977...
by the Packers. He was a one time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er in 1978 in a season in which he unofficially made 20.5 sacks. He had an official career best of 14.5 quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s in 1983 along with 107 tackles which is a team record for most by a defensive lineman in a single season. He played in 192 games in his career, making 55.5 quarterback sacks officially (99 with his unofficial totals added).
Johnson was most notable for eating a hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of a 38–0 Packers' home preseason loss to the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 30, 1980. Even though he was merely hungry and not insubordinate, he was fined $1,000 and required by then-general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
/head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
to apologize to his teammates. Dissatisfied that the discipline was too lenient, defensive line coach Fred von Appen
Fred von Appen
Fred von Appen is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1996 to 1998, compiling a record of 5–31...
resigned
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
in disgust five days after the incident.
Johnson was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame was the first hall of fame built to honor a single professional American football team. After receiving approval from coach Vince Lombardi, William L. Brault, a Green Bay restaurateur and Packers fan, founded the Hall of Fame in 1966...
in 1997.
External links
- Packers.com Offers New Desktop Wallpapers Retrieved April 26, 2006
- http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/JohnEz00.htm