[1][2] Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Johnson graduated from its Sam Houston High School in 1962.

Johnson would start the first ever game for the Falcons at quarterback on September 11, 1966 against the Los Angeles Rams.

[5] The 1967 season would see him start 12 games and go 1-10-1 while throwing for 1,620 yards with 10 touchdowns to 21 interceptions with a 47.8 passer rating.

In his last start and game as a professional on December 12, 1976, he went 16-of-25 for 165 yards with an interception and a rushing touchdown in a 24-20 victory.

Within a year of his retirement from the league, he went through divorce with Pennye Wheeler, who he had married in college and had two children with.

He moved back to Texas after the divorce and began drinking heavily to cope with the loneliness, as he also had agreed to cut off all contact with his then growing two daughters, a decision that he said was on his part "the worst thing that ever happened to me."

Suffering from bone cancer and diabetes, he moved to North Carolina in late 2007 with an acquaintance that set him up with a sparse living space akin to a shed.