Alonzo Johnson
{{Short description|American football player (1963–2024)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Alonzo Johnson
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| number = 54
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date|1963|4|4}}
| birth_place = Panama City, Florida, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|2|1|1963|4|4}}
| death_place = Bay County, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 222
| high_school = Rutherford {{nowrap|(Panama City)}}
| college = Florida
| draftyear = 1986
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 48
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1986|1987}})
| highlights =
- 2× First-team All-American (1984, 1985)
- 2× First-team All-SEC (1984, 1985)
- Second-team Florida Gators All-Century Team
- Florida's All-Time Team
- University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame
| statleague = NFL
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 18
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 9
| statlabel3 = Sacks
| statvalue3 = 1.0
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 = 3
| pfr = JohnAl25
}}
Alonzo Al Johnson (April 4, 1963 – February 1, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s. Johnson played college football for the Florida Gators, and was recognized twice as a first-team All-American. He was selected in the second round of the 1986 NFL draft.
Early life
Alonzo Al Johnson was born in Panama City, Florida.Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnAl25.htm Alonzo Johnson]. Retrieved July 8, 2010. He attended Rutherford High School in Panama City,databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110610094218/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JOHNSALO01 Alonzo Johnson]}}. Retrieved June 4, 2010. where he was a standout high school football player for the Rutherford Rams.
College career
Johnson accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Charley Pell and coach Galen Hall's Florida Gators football teams from 1982 to 1985.[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402035222/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf |date=April 2, 2012 }}, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 87, 92, 96, 98, 124, 153, 182 (2011). Retrieved August 29, 2011. Johnson was a key member of the Gators' defense in 1984 and 1985 when the Gators posted identical 9–1–1 overall win–loss records and led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with best-in-the-conference records of 5–0–1 and 5–1, respectively. He was a first-team All-SEC selection and a first-team All-American in 1984 and 1985, and also a team captain both years. He finished his four-year college career with 335 tackles, 55 tackles for a loss and 27 quarterback sacks.
Johnson was later voted to the Florida Gators' All-Century Team and All-Time Team, and inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."F Club, Hall of Fame, [http://www.gatorfclub.org/hall-of-fame/greats Gator Greats]. Retrieved December 14, 2014."[http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=4231 Nine Former Gators Named to UF Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050234/http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=4231 |date=2015-09-24 }}," GatorZone.com (April 4, 2002). Retrieved July 21, 2011. In 2006, he was ranked as No. 35 among the top 100 Gators of the first century of Florida football by the sportswriters of The Gainesville Sun.Robbie Andreu & Pat Dooley, "[http://www.gainesville.com/article/20060730/GATORS70/60724025?tc=ar No. 35 Alonzo Johnson]," The Gainesville Sun (July 30, 2006). Retrieved April 2, 2013.
Professional career
Johnson was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round (48th overall) of the 1986 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1986 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1986/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played for the Eagles from {{NFL Year|1986}} to {{NFL Year|1987}}.National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=JOH043713 Alonzo Johnson]. Retrieved May 21, 2010. As a rookie, he played in fifteen games and started nine of them at rightside linebacker, with three interceptions. He left the Eagles before the beginning of the 1987 season in order to enter a drug rehabilitation program,Associated Press, "[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/30/sports/eagle-reportedly-seeks-drug-help.html?pagewanted=1 Eagle Reportedly Seeks Drug Help]," The New York Times (August 30, 1987). Retrieved May 21, 2010. and subsequently only played in three games for the Eagles in 1987. He was placed on the non-football injury list in December 1987,Associated Press, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ukBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EeoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6895,1824739&dq=alonzo+johnson+eagles&hl=en New setback for ex-Gator Alonzo Johnson]," The Gainesville Sun, p. 9E (December 6, 1987). Retrieved May 12, 2011. and did not play again.
Death
Johnson died in Bay County, Florida, on February 1, 2024, at the age of 60.[https://www.wjhg.com/2024/02/03/rutherford-uf-football-legend-alonzo-johnson-has-passed-away/ Rutherford and UF football legend Alonzo Johnson has passed away] WJHG
See also
{{Portal|American football|Biography|College football}}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
Bibliography
- Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). {{ISBN|0-7948-2298-3}}.
- Golenbock, Peter, Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory, Legends Publishing, LLC, St. Petersburg, Florida (2002). {{ISBN|0-9650782-1-3}}.
- Hairston, Jack, Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois (2002). {{ISBN|1-58261-514-4}}.
- McCarthy, Kevin M., [https://books.google.com/books?id=_Tk-IQepI6cC Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football], Arcadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (2000). {{ISBN|978-0-7385-0559-6}}.
- Nash, Noel, ed., The Gainesville Sun Presents The Greatest Moments in Florida Gators Football, Sports Publishing, Inc., Champaign, Illinois (1998). {{ISBN|1-57167-196-X}}.
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Category:Players of American football from Panama City, Florida
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Florida Gators football players