[3] Johnson was recruited from Victorian Football Association (VFA) side Northcote and made his senior debut for Fitzroy against Carlton in the opening round of the 1904 VFL season.

He was court-martialled in Egypt on 1 August 1916,[6] charged with "striking his superior officer", found guilty, and sentenced to "six calendar months imprisonment with hard labor [sic]" — his incarceration, which commenced on 16 August 1916, was suspended on 15 September 1916.

[7] Johnson then served with the AIF in France from November 1916, was transferred to the United Kingdom for treatment for "acute nephritis" in February 1917, was repatriated to Australia in July 1917, and was discharged from the AIF on 18 October 1917 on medical grounds.

Johnson married Nora Campion Naismith (1890–1954) in North Carlton on 3 August 1912.

[5][9] Johnson died suddenly on 23 April 1934,[10] and his funeral was held the next day in Carlton.