Cornelius Johnson (offensive lineman)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Cornelius Johnson

| image = Johnson-Cornelius-1970.jpg

| upright = .80

| number = 61, 76

| position = Offensive guard

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|6|12|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Richmond, Virginia, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|7|11|1943|6|12}}

| death_place = Prescott, Arizona, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 245

| high_school = Richmond (VA)

| college = Virginia Union

| draftyear = 1967

| draftround = 8

| draftpick = 204

| pastteams =

Baltimore Colts ({{NFL Year|1967}}–{{NFL Year|1973}})
Harrisburg Capitols (1967)
The Hawaiians (1974–1975)

| highlights =

Super Bowl champion (V)
NFL champion (1968)

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 74

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 7

| pfr = J/JohnCo20

}}

Cornelius Otis Johnson (June 12, 1943 – July 11, 2017) was an American professional football offensive guard who played six seasons with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Colts in the eighth round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. He played college football at Virginia Union University and attended Richmond High School in Richmond, Virginia.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/john08000.html | title=CORNELIUS JOHNSON | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=July 30, 2015 | archive-date=August 27, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827175031/http://www.profootballarchives.com/john08000.html | url-status=dead }} He was a member of the Colts team that won Super Bowl V. He was also a member of the Harrisburg Capitols and The Hawaiians.

Professional career

Johnson was selected by the Baltimore Colts with the 204th pick in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. He played in 74 games, starting seven, for the Colts from 1967 to 1973.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnCo20.htm | title=Cornelius Johnson | publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=August 11, 2015}} He also played for the Harrisburg Capitols of the Atlantic Coast Football League in 1967.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/1967acflharr.html |title=1967 Harrisburg Capitols |publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=July 30, 2015}} The Capitols served as Baltimore's farm club.{{cite web|url=http://tshf.net/halloffame/nelson-andy/ |title=NELSON, ANDY |publisher=tshf.net |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101645/http://tshf.net/halloffame/nelson-andy/ |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |accessdate=September 15, 2016 |df=mdy }}{{cite web|url=http://www.helmethut.com/Features/Dr.Ken119.html |title=ONE DEFINITION OF "MINOR LEAGUE" FOOTBALL, PART TWO |publisher=helmethut.com |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20160915113455/http://www.helmethut.com/Features/Dr.Ken119.html |archivedate=September 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |accessdate=September 15, 2016 |df=mdy }} The Colts won Super Bowl V against the Dallas Cowboys on January 17, 1971.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197101170clt.htm |title=SUPER BOWL V |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |work=pro-football-reference.com |accessdate=August 11, 2015}}

Johnson played in nineteen games for The Hawaiians of the World Football League from 1974 to 1975.{{cite web |url=http://www.nasljerseys.com/WFL/Players/J/Johnson.Cornelius.htm |title=Cornelius Johnson |publisher=nasljerseys.com |accessdate=August 11, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811181000/http://www.nasljerseys.com/WFL/Players/J/Johnson.Cornelius.htm |archivedate=August 11, 2015}}

Personal life

Johnson wore a prosthetic leg after being told, upon examination of a leg injury, that he had to have his lower right leg amputated due to complications from diabetes and MRSA. He was also blind in his right eye and partially blind in his left due to a stroke. He and his wife previously owned a helicopter business in Hawaii. Johnson had served as a mentor to student athletes in Prescott, Arizona ever since he arrived in the area during the late 1990s.

He died on July 11, 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=120494 |title=The wise eyes of Cornelius Johnson have mentored Prescott student athletes for many years |work=The Daily Courier |author=Stockmar, Steve |date=June 23, 2013 |accessdate=June 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140613195716/http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=120494 |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }}