He was named to the first-team on the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, and in 1994, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

[2][3] Johnson's older brother Rafer preceded him as a multi-sport star at Kingsburg High School and UCLA, ultimately winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

[4] He then transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles and played for the UCLA Bruins football team as a wingback and cornerback.

[2] While a student at UCLA, Johnson joined Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity, where he is recognized as a prominent alumni brother.

[8] As a rookie, Johnson appeared in 12 games for the 1961 49ers, played at the cornerback position, and intercepted five passes for a career-high 116 return yards.

Earlier that season, he caught a game-winning 80-yard touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears, which at the time was the longest scoring pass in 49ers history.