NEW ORLEANS, LA. (THECOUNT) — The New Orleans Saints mourn the loss of inside linebacker Vaughan Johnson, who passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 57.
The Saints organisation responded to the sad news in a statement:
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“The thoughts and prayers of the organization are with Vaughan Johnson’s family after his passing. Not only was Vaughan a force on the field in the middle of the ‘Dome Patrol’ defense, but he was a gentle giant off of it. An underrated defender in the middle of a dominant defense, he quickly became a fan favorite and the respect he garnered league-wide among his peers is evidenced by his four consecutive Pro Bowl selections.”
A cause of death was not immediately provided.
Johnson, 6 feet 3 and 240 pounds, originally played for the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League for two seasons from 1984-85 after a standout career at North Carolina State. He was then selected in the first round by the Saints in the USFL Supplemental Draft in 1986. From 1986-93, Johnson played in 120 regular season games with 98 starts for the Saints, posting 664 tackles, 12 sacks, four interceptions and five fumble recoveries. In four playoff contests, he added 24 more stops. The Morehead City, N.C., native led New Orleans in tackles three times, reaching the century mark each time. He was selected to the Pro Bowl from 1989-92. In 1992, the entire Saints starting group of Johnson, Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling became the only group of four linebackers selected to the Pro Bowl together. as the Saints finished first in the NFL in opponent points per game and second in total defense for the second consecutive season. During Johnson’s tenure as a starting linebacker for the Saints, the Black and Gold finished in the top five in opponent points per game four times (1987-88 and 1991-92) and in total defense three seasons (1987, 1991-92).
Johnson also was active in the community throughout his Saints career, engaged in multiple endeavors. He was a spokesman for Goodwill charities and also engaged in annual donations from tackle totals to “Operation Happy Child,” a program which provided Christmas gifts to underprivileged children.
DEVELOPING::
Geo quick facts: New Orleans is a Louisiana city on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico. Nicknamed the “Big Easy,” it’s known for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene and spicy, singular cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American cultures. Embodying its festive spirit is Mardi Gras, the late-winter carnival famed for raucous costumed parades and street parties – wikipedia.