He then played for the University of Wisconsin–Madison ice hockey team for three years under his father, legendary coach Bob Johnson.

He was a star player on the "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic Hockey team at the 1980 Lake Placid winter games.

[citation needed] Playing for the United States against the Soviet Union, Johnson scored two of the four goals in the Team USA 4–3 victory.

His first goal, scored with one second left in the game's first period, led to the Soviet coach taking out his goalie, Vladislav Tretiak, who was considered the best goalie in the world at the time;[1] years later, when Johnson asked Soviet defenseman Slava Fetisov, now an NHL teammate, about the decision, he was simply told, "Coach crazy".

[citation needed] Johnson went on to play professional hockey in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota North Stars, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, and New Jersey Devils.

[citation needed] Michael Cummings played Johnson in the 1981 TV movie Miracle on Ice.

[5] Johnson is the head coach of the University of Wisconsin–Madison women's ice hockey team, a position he has held since 2002.

[citation needed] He served as an assistant coach for the American national men's hockey team in 2000 and 2002.

[10] Johnson coached the Madison Monsters minor league hockey team during their inaugural 1995–96 season.