Gene Johnson (defensive back)

{{Short description|American football player (1935–1997)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox gridiron football person

| name = Gene Johnson

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|9|18|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Clay, West Virginia, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|08|4|1935|09|18}}

| death_place = Montgomery, Ohio, U.S.

| team =

| number = 27, 41

| status =

| position1 = Defensive back

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 187

| college = Cincinnati

| NFLDraftedYear = 1959

| NFLDraftedRound = 9

| NFLDraftedPick = 99

| NFLDraftedTeam = Philadelphia Eagles

| playing_years1 = 1959–1960

| playing_team1 = Philadelphia Eagles

| playing_years2 = 1961

| playing_team2 = Minnesota Vikings

| playing_years3 = 1961

| playing_team3 = New York Giants

| career_highlights =

• NFL champion (1960)

| NFL = JOH259662

| DatabaseFootball = JOHNSGEN01

}}

Eugene Paul Johnson (September 18, 1935{{spaced ndash}}August 4, 1997) was an American professional football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Cincinnati and was selected in the ninth round of the 1959 NFL draft.

Born in Clay, West Virginia, Johnson attended Charleston High School and played for the Cincinnati Bearcats football team.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnGe20.htm Gene Johnson], Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed February 4, 2024.

Johnson spent his first two NFL seasons with the Eagles and was a member of their 1960 league championship team. That season he intercepted three passes in 11 games (three starts), which he split between the defensive halfback and safety positions.