Bill Johnson ( center ) William Levi Johnson , Sr . ( September 14 , 1926 – January 7 , 2011 ) , known as Bill " Tiger " Johnson , was a professional football player and coach . He was born in Tyler , Texas , where he was raised by his single mother and five older siblings . Among his siblings was older brother Gilbert Johnson , who played quarterback at Southern Methodist University with the iconic running back Doak Walker . Bill was a legendary football and baseball star for Tyler Junior College and Texas A & M University , and graduated from Stephen F . Austin State University . He played center for the San Francisco 49ers from 1948 to 1956 . Although Johnson is known mostly for his accomplishments as a football player in the National Football League , Tiger had a prolific career in college as well , not only in football , but also baseball . Bill began his college football career at Tyler Junior College , a small school in Johnson ' s hometown of Tyler , Texas . Bill would end his collegiate career with Texas A & M University . The end of his college sports career brought about a pressing issue ; was Johnson to pursue a professional career in the MLB with the Cincinnati Reds , who had offered him a minor - league contract , or test his football ability in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers , who offered Bill with a non - drafted rookie free agent contract . Bill decided to go with football , even though his true love was baseball . He was a phenomenal catcher at the collegiate level , but always stated that he would have never made it in " the bigs " due to a lack of ability in throwing out base runners when they would attempt to steal . During his 9 years in the NFL as a player , all of which were with the 49ers , Johnson blocked at the center position for what was known as the Million Dollar Backfield in San Francisco , which featured fullbacks John Henry Johnson and Joe Perry , halfback Hugh McElhenny , and quarterback Y . A . Tittle . Johnson was heralded as the star of the offensive line of the 49ers , who constantly beat teams due to their ability to control the ball and wear down opponents . Johnson earned two Pro Bowl selections , and was also voted to be an All - Pro . Bill earned the nickname of " Tiger " in his first season as a 49er . Johnson spent most of his rookie season injured , only seeing the field in five of the twelve regular season games . One game , when Bill was sidelined , his teammates began to taunt him , given that Johnson was a rookie . They were inferring through teasing him that Johnson was not truly injured , but was not tough enough to play football at the professional level . Eventually , Johnson was fed up , and retorted , " I can ' t wait ' til I ' m back on the field - and when I come back , I ' ll come back fighting like a Tiger ! " The nickname " Tiger " stuck forever , and his tenacity on the field was always a prime , living contributor to his nickname ' s legitimacy . He was a line coach for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1976 , when Paul Brown retired as the team ' s head coach and named Tiger as his successor . Tiger won 18 and lost 15 , but resigned five games into the 1978 season after starting 0 – 5 . After his head coaching tenure , " Tiger " would go on to be an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1979 – 1982 and the Detroit Lions from 1983 - 1984 . He would end his career by reuniting with the Bengals as an assistant in 1985 . He retired as the Bengals tight ends coach in 1990 . He was the father of William R . Johnson , president , CEO and chairman of H . J . Heinz .