Ken Johnson (Canadian football)
Encyclopedia
Ken Johnson was an all-star quarterback in the Canadian Football League
.
Johnson was a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder
, where he played from 1971 to 1973 and earned a degree in marketing. He began his professional career in 1974 as a back-up quarterback for the World Football League's Portland Storm. In June, 1977, Johnson was signed as a free agent by the National Football League's Buffalo Bills
. Though he was on the active roster for 14 games, he saw no action with the Bills and was released on August 22, 1978. A month later, Johnson signed with the Calgary Stampeders
of the Canadian Football League
.
Seeing limited action in 1978, Johnson earned the Stampeders' starting job in 1979. Appearing in all 16 regular season games, Johnson completed 56.4% of his passes (176 of 312) for 2344 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions as he led the Stampeders to a 12-4 record and a CFL playoff berth. After falling one win short of the Grey Cup game in 1979, Johnson followed up with another solid season in 1980 setting a career high in touchdown passes (22) while completing 56.0% of his passes (218 of 389) for 3019 yards. Johnson would also set a career high with 16 interceptions as the Stampeders finished 9-7 and were eliminated in the first round of the CFL playoffs. The Stampeders slide would continue in 1981, which likely led to Johnson being traded after 12 games to the Montreal Alouettes
on October 11, 1981. Overall, he would appear in 15 games that season, completing a career high 59.3% of his passes (254 of 428) for 3364 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Johnson would not see much action with the reborn Montreal franchise, Montreal Concordes, in 1982. He appeared in only 2 games before being traded to the Toronto Argonauts
for linebacker Duncan MacKinlay on August 4, 1982. Eight days later, the Argonauts traded Johnson back to Montreal who immediately placed him on their injured list for the remainder of the season.
Granted free agency on January 15, 1983, Johnson returned to the U.S. when he signed with the USFL's Denver Gold five days later. Though starting the season as a backup, Johnson would officially take over the starting job in Week 3 on a snowy Soldier Field in Chicago. Facing bitter cold, 20 mph winds, and George Allen's veteran-laden Chicago Blitz
squad, Johnson would throw only 6 passes, completing nearly as many to Blitz defenders (2) as his own receivers (3). Yet all would be forgiven when Johnson squirmed his way into the end zone for the game winning touchdown on 4th down with only 22 seconds remaining (Gold 16, Blitz 13). Johnson would remain the primary starter until an ankle injury ended his season during a Week 11 loss to the Boston Breakers
. Johnson finished the season completing 48.8% of his passes (121 of 248) for 1115 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Gold released Johnson on January 9, 1984, and was awarded on waivers to the Memphis Showboats
on January 16, 1984. Johnson struggled in limited action as a backup for the Showboats in 1984, completing only 47.6% of his passes (30 of 63) for 310 yards.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Johnson was a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, where he played from 1971 to 1973 and earned a degree in marketing. He began his professional career in 1974 as a back-up quarterback for the World Football League's Portland Storm. In June, 1977, Johnson was signed as a free agent by the National Football League's Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Though he was on the active roster for 14 games, he saw no action with the Bills and was released on August 22, 1978. A month later, Johnson signed with the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Seeing limited action in 1978, Johnson earned the Stampeders' starting job in 1979. Appearing in all 16 regular season games, Johnson completed 56.4% of his passes (176 of 312) for 2344 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions as he led the Stampeders to a 12-4 record and a CFL playoff berth. After falling one win short of the Grey Cup game in 1979, Johnson followed up with another solid season in 1980 setting a career high in touchdown passes (22) while completing 56.0% of his passes (218 of 389) for 3019 yards. Johnson would also set a career high with 16 interceptions as the Stampeders finished 9-7 and were eliminated in the first round of the CFL playoffs. The Stampeders slide would continue in 1981, which likely led to Johnson being traded after 12 games to the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
on October 11, 1981. Overall, he would appear in 15 games that season, completing a career high 59.3% of his passes (254 of 428) for 3364 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Johnson would not see much action with the reborn Montreal franchise, Montreal Concordes, in 1982. He appeared in only 2 games before being traded to the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
for linebacker Duncan MacKinlay on August 4, 1982. Eight days later, the Argonauts traded Johnson back to Montreal who immediately placed him on their injured list for the remainder of the season.
Granted free agency on January 15, 1983, Johnson returned to the U.S. when he signed with the USFL's Denver Gold five days later. Though starting the season as a backup, Johnson would officially take over the starting job in Week 3 on a snowy Soldier Field in Chicago. Facing bitter cold, 20 mph winds, and George Allen's veteran-laden Chicago Blitz
Chicago Blitz
The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :...
squad, Johnson would throw only 6 passes, completing nearly as many to Blitz defenders (2) as his own receivers (3). Yet all would be forgiven when Johnson squirmed his way into the end zone for the game winning touchdown on 4th down with only 22 seconds remaining (Gold 16, Blitz 13). Johnson would remain the primary starter until an ankle injury ended his season during a Week 11 loss to the Boston Breakers
Portland Breakers
The Portland Breakers were a professional American Football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. Before moving to Portland, Oregon, the franchise was previously in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Breakers and New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans...
. Johnson finished the season completing 48.8% of his passes (121 of 248) for 1115 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Gold released Johnson on January 9, 1984, and was awarded on waivers to the Memphis Showboats
Memphis Showboats
The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders...
on January 16, 1984. Johnson struggled in limited action as a backup for the Showboats in 1984, completing only 47.6% of his passes (30 of 63) for 310 yards.