Sad news coming out of Wake Forest, North Carolina, today: NFL Super Bowl champion Charles Johnson, 50, is dead
CBS-17 broke the news — former teammates confirmed his death.
The cause of death is still unknown, but many have noted the passing of many athletes since the rollout of COVID vaccinations.
The Defender reported that nearly 900 athletes collapsed on the field in 2021 with the average age of athletes reporting cardiac arrest being 23 years old. America’s Frontline Doctors reported an increase of more than 500% in “cardiac and unexplained deaths” in 2021.
Charles Johnson was a standout player in the 1990s. A first-round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson played wide receiver and racked up 1,008 receiving yards in 1996.
Johnson played five seasons for the Steelers — recording 247 catches for 3,400 yards and 15 touchdowns. He led as #16 in all-time receptions for the team.
After leaving the Steelers, Johnson played two seasons for the Eagles. His high point for that team was in 2000 when he recorded seven touchdown passes.
Johnson was traded to the New England Patriots in 2001. Notably, Johnson caught two passes in the AFC Championship game win over the Steelers. The win helped his new team move forward to capture their first Super Bowl championship.
Johnson’s last professional season was in 2002. He closed out his NFL career playing for the Buffalo Bills.
Desiring to give back and invest in young people, Johnson took a position as coach and assistant athletic director at Heritage High School in North Carolina.
He will be missed.
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