Inductees

With a persona as a bone-crushing linebacker who devoured quarterbacks, you’d assume that Derrick Johnson was one of those throwbacks who scowled even in family photos.

Yet ask him about his Kansas City Chiefs days, especially the college-like atmosphere of Arrowhead Stadium, and he breaks into a teddy-bear smile.

“There is an experience that I cannot explain when you walk on the field and see the sea of red cheering for you,” Johnson said. “The loudest fans in the NFL are in Kansas City, and I will remember and cherish that for the rest of my life. There is nothing like driving to the game on a Sunday afternoon seeing and smelling all the barbecue in the parking lot. Tailgating in Kansas City is very old-school and authentic. The scene and vibe is so special.”

Truth is, Johnson was among the box-office draws as he became the Chiefs’ all-time leading tackler over a 13-year career, which is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct Johnson with the Class of 2020.

A first-round draft pick out of the University of Texas, Johnson played for the Chiefs from 2005 to 2017, compiling 1,262 tackles. Along the way, he helped the Chiefs to six seasons of at least 10 wins and five playoff berths between 2010 and 2017.

His best seasons were between 2010 and 2015 – he played in only one game in 2014 due to injury — as Johnson had 600 total tackles. Overall, he finished with 27 ½ sacks, 40 quarterback hits and 14 interceptions. He was a First Team All-Pro in 2010 and a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

This for a player who nearly wasn’t a Chief. In 2005, Johnson was projected to be drafted before the Chiefs’ selection at No. 15 overall.

“Coach Dick Vermeil (MSHOF Legend 2012) told me on my visit that he didn’t think I would make it to the 15th pick but, if I did, he would for sure pick me up,” Johnson said.

However, even Johnson himself emphasizes that it took him several years – and a notable benching – before he rose to NFL elite status.

“In my fifth year, I was benched by Todd Haley, the first-time head coach. Right or wrong, it happened and I learned so much about myself that year. My game grew mentally and physically,” Johnson said. “When adversity hits, you have to face it head on. That’s the only way to be successful. That mindset allowed me to push through something I have never dealt with before.”

In training camp the next summer, the Chiefs opened up competition for the linebacker spot.

“I found out a lot about myself, and there were two things that helped me win the job that year: being a consistent player and staying easily motivated,” Johnson said. “Every year after I was benched, I received Pro Bowl status or All-Pro honors. It’s not a coincidence – it’s a fact of life that, when adversity presents itself, you have to face it with a good attitude.”

The result? He was a human highlight reel.

“The Chiefs allowed me to be myself on the field. They allowed me to take chances and create moments that where exciting to watch,” Johnson said.

Johnson counts many for his success. Among them is his mom, “a church-going lady that showed us what hard work is all about,” he said. She has been a school teacher for 48 years. And he had two older brothers – including Dwayne, an NFL player — and a sister. Plus, Johnson played for Mack Brown at the University of Texas.

Football was his calling, really. At a Waco, Texas high school, he set a state record with 31 tackles in a game – which is a feat in an of itself but more striking considering he did it in football-mad Texas.

Johnson went on to star for the University of Texas and helped put the Longhorns in position to win the national title a year after he left college.

Eventually, he became a favorite of Chiefs fans.

“Being the all-time leading tackler in Chiefs history is a blessing to say the least. When I got drafted in 2005, that was not my goal. My goal was to be the best player I can be at that current moment,” Johnson said. “Having that mindset for 13 straight years allowed me to make some exciting and miraculous achievements. God has really been good to me when I look back over my career in Kansas City.”