Johnny Carson (American football)

{{Short description|American football player (1930–2009)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{more footnotes needed|date=September 2014}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Johnny Carson

| image = John Carson - 1955 Bowman.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Carson on a 1955 Bowman football card

| position = Tight end

| number = 82

| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|01|31}}

| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|04|01|1930|01|31}}

| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| draftyear = 1953

| draftround = 15

| draftpick = 179
(by the Cleveland Browns)

| college = Georgia

| teams =

• Washington Redskins (1954–1959)
• Houston Oilers (1960)

| highlights =

• AFL champion (1960)
• Pro Bowl (1957)
• First-team All-American (1953)
• First-team All-SEC (1953)

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 173

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 2,591

| statlabel3 = Touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 15

| pfr = C/CarsJo00

}}

Johnny Richard Carson Sr. (January 31, 1930 – April 1, 2009) was an American professional football player who was a tight end for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1953 to 1959. He also played for the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL) during their inaugural season in 1960. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning first-team All-American honors in 1953. Carson was selected in the 15th round of the 1953 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.

He died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at Abbey Hospice in Social Circle.{{cite web |title=Johnny R. Carson Sr. |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=125683035 |date=April 3, 2009 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |accessdate=September 4, 2009}}