Jim Johnson ( American football ) Jim Johnson ( May 26 , 1941July 28 , 2009 ) was an American football coach , formerly serving as defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles . Widely regarded as one of the best defensive coordinators in the National Football League ( NFL ) , he was especially known for being a master architect of blitzes , disguising them skillfully and keeping offenses constantly off - balance . In more than 40 years of coaching , Johnson held head coaching duties only once ( at the collegiate level ) , but was interviewed by the Arizona Cardinals regarding their head coaching vacancy in 2004 . Playing career . A native of Maywood , Illinois , Johnson played college football for head coach Dan Devine at the University of Missouri from 1959 – 62 . An all - Big Eight quarterback , Johnson played in the same backfield with long - time NFL executive Bill Tobin . He went undrafted in the 1963 NFL Draft , but was signed to play tight end by the Buffalo Bills of the AFL ( 1963 – 64 ) . Coaching career . Johnson began his coaching career as head coach at Missouri Southern ( 1967 – 68 ) , before serving four - year tenures at Drake University ( 1969 – 72 ) and Indiana University ( 1973 – 76 ) . In 1977 , Johnson was hired by his former head coach at Missouri , Dan Devine , as defensive backs coach at University of Notre Dame . After helping the 1977 Fighting Irish to win the national championship in his first year , Johnson was later promoted to defensive coordinator and assistant head coach under Gerry Faust . Leaving Notre Dame in 1984 , Johnson coached in the short - lived USFL with the Oklahoma Outlaws ( 1984 ) and Jacksonville Bulls ( 1985 ) . In 1986 he finally entered the NFL as a coach , spending eight seasons with the St . Louis / Phoenix Cardinals ( 1986 – 93 ) . After overseeing the Cards defensive line for four seasons , Johnson excelled as their secondary coach , helping Aeneas Williams become the first rookie cornerback to lead the league in interception s ( 6 ) since 1981 . In 1994 he joined the Indianapolis Colts as linebackers coach under head coach Ted Marchibroda . After defensive coordinator Vince Tobin left the Colts in 1996 to become head coach of the Cardinals , Johnson was deemed his successor by new Colts head coach Lindy Infante . The Colts finished last in the AFC East in 1997 , causing Infante and his staff to be fired . Johnson spent the 1998 NFL season as linebackers coach on the final staff of Seattle Seahawks head coach Dennis Erickson , before leaving for Philadelphia . He helped the Seahawks register 10 TDs on defense , including 8 INTs returned for scores , 2nd most in NFL history . If Johnson had stayed , he could have stepped into the coordinator ' s role when Fritz Shurmur died of cancer that summer . On January 22 , 1999 , Eagles head coach Andy Reid targeted and hired Jim Johnson as the Eagles new defensive coordinator . Johnson ' s tenure in Philadelphia was his most successful , as the Eagles won 5 division titles , each reaping the benefits of his defenses . Because head coach Andy Reid is known more for his acumen on the offensive side of the ball , he handed complete control of the defensive unit of the team to Johnson , allowing Reid to concentrate on running the offense with his offensive coordinators , Brad Childress and later Marty Mornhinweg . Reid repeatedly said he had full confidence in Johnson and the Eagles rewarded him accordingly , as he became one of the highest paid coordinators in the NFL . " As I ' ve said many times , Jim Johnson is the best in the business at what he does , " said Reid upon signing his prized defensive coordinator to a lucrative four - year contract extension in 2005 . " His defensive units continue to produce at a very high level as he puts a lot of pressure on opposing offenses . " From 2000 - 07 , Johnson ' s units rank tied for first in the NFL with 342 sacks , second in the league in 3rd down efficiency ( 34 . 3 % ) and red zone touchdown percentage ( 43 . 0 % ) , and fourth in fewest points allowed ( 17 . 6 per game ) . In 2001 , Johnson ' s unit became the fourth team in NFL history to go all 16 games without allowing more than 21 points . Their streak of allowing 21 or fewer in 34 straight games was second longest in NFL history ( Minnesota , 1968 – 71 ) . In 1999 , Johnson ' s unit forced a NFL - best 46 turnovers , including a team - record 5 interceptions returned for TDs . Eagles defenders were selected for the Pro Bowl 26 times during Johnson ' s tenure . Former Eagle Brian Dawkins led the way with seven . Other Eagles defenders to go to the Pro Bowl under Johnson include Troy Vincent ( five ) , Jeremiah Trotter ( four ) , Hugh Douglas ( three ) , Lito Sheppard ( two ) , and Trent Cole , Michael Lewis , Asante Samuel , Corey Simon , Bobby Taylor ( one each ) . Current NFL head coaches John Harbaugh ( special teams and defensive backs ) , Ron Rivera ( linebackers ) , and Leslie Frazier ( defensive backs ) , all coached under Johnson with the Eagles . Illness and death . Shortly after the Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs , on January 29 , 2009 , it was announced that Johnson was undergoing treatment for melanoma . In mid - May , Johnson announced a leave of absence due to the advancement of his cancer , with secondary coach Sean McDermott taking over duties as the interim defensive coordinator . On July 24 , 2009 , Jim Johnson officially resigned as defensive coordinator , with McDermott having the interim tag removed . Four days later , on July 28 , 2009 , Johnson died at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania at the age of 68 .