Former Georgia football great Andy Johnson passed away earlier today at the age of 65 after a long illness.
Former Georgia football player Andy Johnson has died at the age of 65. Older Dawg fans remember Johnson as one of the great mobile quarterbacks to ever wear the red and black. Johnson commanded an option-style offense to a 25-9-1 in three seasons.
He was a multi sport athlete who lettered in baseball and football in 1971, 1972, and 1973. He played for the great head coaches Vince Dooley in football and Jim Whatley in baseball.
Rest In Peace Andy Johnson, one of the kindest gentlemen and all time great Bulldog quarterback and athlete. Erk Russell once told me he was the best QB during his time in Athens. A true elite. Yet so humble. @ChipTowersDN @960theref
— Jeff Dantzler (@jeffdantzlertv) May 16, 2018
Johnson’s sophomore season was his best at Georgia. He led the 1971 Bulldogs football team to an 11-1 record while rushing for an astounding 870 yards. This season was capped off with a Gator Bowl win over North Carolina. His 1,799 was the most for a Georgia quarterback. In 1973, Johnson led the Bulldog’s baseball team with 19 runs scored.
And Johnson’s double-fake, bootleg run to the end zone against Tennessee in 1973 prompted one of Larry Munson’s first great calls as Georgia’s play-by-play man; “My God, Georgia beat Tennessee in Knoxville.”
Johnson was drafted by an NFL team and a MLB team. He ended up going the NFL route with the New England Patriots. They selected him in the 5th round of the 1974 draft.
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He went on to a quality NFL career in which he played running back. His best year was a stellar 1976 season. He scored 10 touchdowns and gained 1042 total (rushing and receiving) yards that year. He missed the 1977 season, but returned in 1978 to amass 942 total yards. His professional football career ended in the USFL with the Boston Breakers.
Johnson was a 1996 inductee into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. The Athens Athletic Hall of Fame inducted Johnson in 2000. He leaves behind a wife (Charlotte) and 3 children.