Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Norm Johnson
View on Wikipedia
Norman Douglas Johnson (born May 31, 1960)[1] is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker for 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). During that time, he played for the Seattle Seahawks (1982–90), Atlanta Falcons (1991–1994), Pittsburgh Steelers (1995–98), and the Philadelphia Eagles (1999). Johnson played college football for the UCLA Bruins.
Key Information
Johnson finished his 18 NFL seasons with 366 of 477 field goals (76%) and 638 of 644 extra points (99%), giving him a total of 1,736 points. Currently, Johnson has the 12th most points in NFL history, as well as the 8th most extra points made and the 15th most field goals made.,[2] Johnson's performance earned him the enduring nickname "Mr. Automatic" received during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks. In 1993, while with the Atlanta Falcons, Johnson led the league in field goal percentage (96.3%), making 26 out of 27 field goal attempts.
Johnson's best season was in 1995, when he led the NFL in field goals made (34) and attempted (41), while also successfully kicking all 39 of his extra point attempts. He then assisted the Steelers to Super Bowl XXX by kicking four field goals in their 40-21 divisional playoff win over the Buffalo Bills and two field goals in their 20–16 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC title game. He also kicked a 46-yard field goal in the Steelers' 27-17 Super Bowl loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Johnson is the only player to have been teammates with the Steelers top two all-time leading rushers, having been teammates with Jerome Bettis in Pittsburgh and Franco Harris during his brief time with the Seahawks.
Johnson's family includes wife Lori, and three sons, Jordan, Jarrett and Jameson.[3]
Johnson graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. After his NFL career, he made his real estate hobby into a profession. He now resides in western Washington state, where he works as a real estate agent.
On December 10, 2007, Johnson rescued a woman who had rolled over her car on icy roads in Kitsap County, Washington. As she struggled to crawl from the partially submerged car, Johnson freed her by breaking out a window with a rock.[4]
Career regular season statistics
[edit]Career high/best bolded
| Regular season statistics | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team (record) | G | FGM | FGA | % | <20 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | LNG | BLK | XPM | XPA | % | PTS |
| 1982 | SEA (4–5) | 9 | 10 | 14 | 71.4 | 0–0 | 3–4 | 5–6 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 48 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 92.9 | 43 |
| 1983 | SEA (9–7) | 16 | 18 | 25 | 72.0 | 1–1 | 4–4 | 4–7 | 8–10 | 1–3 | 54 | 0 | 49 | 50 | 98.0 | 103 |
| 1984 | SEA (12–4) | 16 | 20 | 24 | 83.3 | 0–0 | 9–10 | 4–4 | 6–7 | 1–3 | 50 | 0 | 50 | 51 | 98.0 | 110 |
| 1985 | SEA (8–8) | 16 | 14 | 25 | 56.0 | 0–0 | 5–5 | 7–9 | 1–8 | 1–3 | 51 | 0 | 40 | 41 | 97.6 | 82 |
| 1986 | SEA (10–6) | 16 | 22 | 35 | 62.9 | 0–0 | 6–8 | 8–9 | 3–11 | 5–7 | 54 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 100.0 | 108 |
| 1987 | SEA (9–6) | 13 | 15 | 20 | 75.0 | 0–0 | 7–7 | 4–7 | 4–5 | 0–1 | 49 | 0 | 40 | 40 | 100.0 | 85 |
| 1988 | SEA (9–7) | 16 | 22 | 28 | 78.6 | 1–1 | 4–4 | 7–9 | 10–14 | 0–0 | 47 | 0 | 39 | 39 | 100.0 | 105 |
| 1989 | SEA (7–9) | 16 | 15 | 25 | 60.0 | 1–1 | 6–7 | 3–4 | 4–8 | 1–5 | 50 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 100.0 | 72 |
| 1990 | SEA (9–7) | 16 | 23 | 32 | 71.9 | 2–2 | 7–7 | 8–14 | 5–6 | 1–3 | 51 | 0 | 33 | 34 | 97.1 | 102 |
| 1991 | ATL (10–6) | 14 | 19 | 23 | 82.6 | 0–0 | 9–9 | 4–4 | 5–8 | 1–2 | 50 | 0 | 38 | 39 | 97.4 | 95 |
| 1992 | ATL (6–10) | 16 | 18 | 22 | 81.8 | 0–0 | 6–6 | 4–5 | 4–7 | 4–4 | 54 | 1 | 39 | 39 | 100.0 | 93 |
| 1993 | ATL (6–10) | 15 | 26 | 27 | 96.3 | 1–1 | 7–7 | 9–10 | 7–7 | 2–2 | 54 | 0 | 34 | 34 | 100.0 | 112 |
| 1994 | ATL (7–9) | 16 | 21 | 25 | 84.0 | 0–0 | 9–9 | 7–7 | 4–4 | 1–5 | 50 | 1 | 32 | 32 | 100.0 | 95 |
| 1995 | PIT (11–5) | 16 | 34 | 41 | 82.9 | 1–1 | 10–10 | 14–16 | 8–13 | 1–1 | 50 | 0 | 39 | 39 | 100.0 | 141 |
| 1996 | PIT (10–6) | 16 | 23 | 30 | 76.7 | 0–0 | 10–12 | 8–10 | 5–7 | 0–1 | 49 | 3 | 37 | 37 | 100.0 | 106 |
| 1997 | PIT (11–5) | 16 | 22 | 25 | 88.0 | 1–1 | 6–6 | 8–8 | 6–8 | 1–2 | 52 | 1 | 40 | 40 | 100.0 | 106 |
| 1998 | PIT (7–9) | 15 | 26 | 31 | 83.9 | 0–0 | 10–10 | 5–5 | 11–14 | 0–2 | 49 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 100.0 | 99 |
| 1999 | PHI (5–11) | 15 | 18 | 25 | 72.0 | 0–0 | 8–9 | 5–8 | 5–6 | 0–2 | 49 | 1 | 25 | 25 | 100.0 | 79 |
| Career (18 seasons) | 273 | 366 | 477 | 76.7 | 8–8 | 126–134 | 114–142 | 98–146 | 20–47 | 54 | 8 | 638 | 644 | 99.1 | 1736 | |
References
[edit]- ^ "Norm Johnson Career Statistics". National Football League. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
- ^ "Norm Johnson Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Farnsworth, Clare (January 18, 2006). "Where Are They Now? The 1984 Seattle Seahawks". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Wife, Lori now 54, and three sons -- Jordan, now 28; Jarrett, 26; and Jameson, 20.
- ^ Sullivan, Jennifer (December 12, 2007). "Former Seahawk kicker pulls motorist from ditch". The Seattle Times.
External links
[edit]Norm Johnson
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Childhood and family background
Norman Douglas Johnson was born on May 31, 1960, in Inglewood, California.[4] His father, Howard Johnson, was an accomplished offensive tackle who played college football at California State University, Santa Barbara, and was inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame; Howard later enjoyed a successful career as a high school coach in both football and baseball, providing a strong familial influence rooted in Southern California's competitive sports environment.[5] The Johnson family relocated to Garden Grove, California, during Norm's early years, where he spent much of his formative childhood immersed in the region's vibrant athletic culture that emphasized football and other team sports.[6] Little is documented about his mother's background or any siblings, though the household's emphasis on discipline and physical activity from his father's coaching experiences shaped his early personal development prior to organized athletics.[5]High school career
Norm Johnson attended Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, where he emerged as a standout placekicker on the varsity football team.[1] During his junior year, he demonstrated strong accuracy by converting 10 of 14 field goal attempts and 33 of 34 point-after-touchdown kicks, contributing significantly to the team's scoring efforts.[7] Johnson also showcased impressive range, once booting a 70-yard field goal in practice, though under non-game conditions without a holder or snapper.[5] His high school performance as a reliable kicker with leg strength drew recruitment interest from multiple colleges, leading him to commit to UCLA without visiting other programs.[8] Beyond football, Johnson participated in baseball and soccer, balancing his athletic pursuits with his developing specialization in kicking during this period.[7]College career
UCLA Bruins
Norm Johnson enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1978 as a freshman, where he joined the Bruins football program. He was on the roster in 1978 and 1979 but did not record kicking statistics during those years. Johnson transitioned into the role of placekicker during his junior and senior seasons (1980–1981).[9] His foundation in kicking, honed during his high school career at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, prepared him for the demands of college-level play.[10] From 1980 to 1981, Johnson served as UCLA's primary placekicker, participating in Pac-10 Conference games and contributing to the team's special teams unit.[11] During this period, the Bruins competed under head coach Terry Donahue, with overall performance including a strong 9–2 finish in 1980 that earned a No. 13 ranking in the final AP Poll, and a 7–4–1 record in 1981 culminating in a bowl game appearance. (Note: Earlier seasons 1978: 8–3–1 with a tie in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Arkansas; 1979: 5–6.)[12][13][14] Johnson's role was essential to the Bruins' offensive strategy, as his field goals and extra-point attempts often provided momentum during drives and helped secure victories in close contests within the competitive Pac-10 landscape.[7] In key seasons like 1980 and 1981, his consistent kicking supported the team's push for conference contention and postseason play, bolstering scoring efficiency in an era when special teams reliability was critical for Pac-10 success.[13][14]Key achievements at UCLA
During his two seasons as UCLA's primary kicker in 1980 and 1981, Norm Johnson compiled a career record of 24 field goals made out of 34 attempts (70.6% accuracy), including a longest successful kick of 49 yards, along with 66 extra points out of 66 attempts (100.0% accuracy), for a total of 138 points scored.[11][15] In 1980, as a junior, he converted 10 of 14 field goals (71.4%) and 32 of 33 extra points (97.0%), contributing 62 points and ranking fifth in the Pac-10 in field goals made, third in extra points made, and tenth in total points.[11] The following year, as a senior, Johnson converted 14 of 19 field goals (73.7%) and 32 of 32 extra points (100.0%), amassing 74 points and leading the Bruins in scoring while placing third in the Pac-10 in field goals made, second in extra points made, and fifth in total points.[11][15] One of Johnson's standout performances came on October 10, 1981, against Colorado, where he set a then-UCLA single-game record by making four field goals, including kicks of 49, 42, 27, and 22 yards, helping secure a 30-0 shutout victory.[16] In the 1981 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl against Michigan on December 31, Johnson successfully converted two extra points after UCLA's touchdowns but missed a 32-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter during the 33-14 loss.[17] Johnson's consistent reliability elevated UCLA's scoring output in the Pac-10, where his field goal and extra point production ranked among the conference's top performers in both seasons, contributing to the team's 7-4-1 record and bowl appearance in 1981.[11] He was recognized as the Bruins' leading scorer that year with 74 points and served as a team captain alongside Luis Sharpe and Karl Morgan, while also earning the Jack R. Robinson Memorial Award for the highest academic scholarship among seniors.[15] Over his UCLA tenure, Johnson's 24 career field goals tied for tenth on the program's all-time list at the time, underscoring his impact as a specialist.[15]| Year | FG Made/Att | XP Made/Att | Total Points | Pac-10 Rank (Points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 10/14 | 32/33 | 62 | 10th |
| 1981 | 14/19 | 32/32 | 74 | 5th |
| Career | 24/34 | 66/66 | 138 | N/A |
