Johnnie Morton Johnnie James Morton , Jr . ( born October 7 , 1971 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League ( NFL ) for twelve seasons during the 1990s and 2000s . He played college football for the University of Southern California ( USC ) , and was recognized as an All - American . Originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round in the 1994 NFL Draft , he also played professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers of the NFL . Morton attempted a career in mixed martial arts fighting in 2007 , but was permanently suspended by the California State Athletic Commission shortly after his debut fight when his pre - fight sample tested positive for illegal performance enhancing drugs , specifically the steroid epitestosterone . Early years . Morton was born in Inglewood , California . He attended South High School in Torrance , California , and played for the South High Spartans high school football team . College career . While attending the University of Southern California , Morton played for the USC Trojans football team from 1990 to 1993 . He broke twelve USC team and Pacific - 10 Conference records for receptions and receiving yards . Morton was nicknamed " Johnnie Hero " by USC broadcaster Pete Arbogast , thanks to a game - winning touchdown pass Morton caught in the 1990 USC - UCLA rivalry game — a 23 - yard strike from Trojans quarterback Todd Marinovich with 16 seconds left that gave the Trojans a 45 - 42 come - from - behind victory . Professional career . Detroit selected Morton in the first round ( 21st overall pick ) of the 1994 NFL Draft , and he played for the Lions from to . He would go on to achieve an important secondary role on a deep Lions ' receiving corps that also featured Pro Bowl flanker Herman Moore and veteran Brett Perriman . After learning the ropes as a rookie in 1994 , Morton became Detroit ' s featured slot receiver in 1995 and a key contributor on special teams as a kickoff / punt returner . Morton was part of one of the most prolific offenses in Detroit history that year , as the Lions would rack up 436 total points ( second highest in the NFL ) and end up with ten victories - appearing in the playoffs for the third straight season . He contributed 44 receptions on that team for 590 yards and 8 touchdowns . Perhaps his most memorable game occurred that same season during a classic Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit against the Minnesota Vikings . Moore ( 127 yards ) , Perriman ( 153 ) , and Johnnie Morton ( 102 ) all eclipsed the 100 - yard receiving mark , and Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders rushed for 138 yards , and quarterback Scott Mitchell passed for 410 yards in a 44 - 38 Lions ' shootout victory . After the departure of Perriman , Morton became more of a featured receiver in Detroit ' s offense in the ensuing years . His best season statistically was during the 1999 season when he had 80 receptions for 1129 yards on a surprising Lions team that made the playoffs that year , despite the unexpected retirement of Barry Sanders . All told , Morton finished his pro career with 624 receptions for 8719 yards and 43 touchdowns . He currently ranks third on Detroit ' s all - time list in both receptions and yards - receiving , with 469 and 6 , 499 , respectively . Personal . Morton ' s younger brother , Chad Morton , also played at USC . The Morton family is of mixed ethnicity , African - American and Japanese . Morton had a brief cameo appearance in the movie " Jerry Maguire " . During the 2001 season , comedian Jay Leno had been poking fun at the Lions ' 0 - 12 record . When the Lions won their first game of the season 27 - 24 against the Minnesota Vikings , Morton , who knew of Leno ' s comments , said , " I got the damn monkey off my back , off Marty ' s back , and I want Jay Leno to kiss my ass . " Morton later appeared on " The Tonight Show " , during which Leno proceeded to kiss a donkey . Morton met and dated life long Chiefs fan lingerie and bikini model Kiera Sky from 2002 until 2004 before he left Kansas City . The couple moved in together shortly after meeting at a charity fan event in early November . Kiera won a celebrity bachelor auction paying $ 2000 . 00 to the Make A Wish Foundation in 2002 for a dream date with her favorite Chief . She moved in with the following week . They shared a home in Independence , Missouri . They soon got engaged following a two week courtship . Johnnie and Kiera made plans right off to start their family . She was soon pregnant by late November 2002 . Kiera gave birth to the couple ' s daughter in August 2003 . In a 2003 interview with Planet Muscle " John is the best man i could have dreamed for . Our chemistry is amazing . He ' s a kind and loving man . I knew we ' d be together from moment we met . I look forward to giving him a son to play ball with . " She went on to reply to their bedroom relationship . " I am a bit embarrassed to say we consummated our relationship the first night . He ' s got tremendous stamina and is very well endowed how I prefer . " They separated in 2004 after his release from the Chiefs .