As the Eagles begin preparing in earnest for the 2009 season, they’re doing so amid the reality that former defensive coordinator Jim Johnson’s cancer battle is coming to a sad conclusion.
According to the Daily Times of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Johnson recently took a turn for the worse.
Sartre says there was “muffled talk” at camp on Tuesday morning that Johnson’s fight is nearly over.
Johnson served as the team’s defensive coordinator for ten years, and he was regarded as one of the best at what he does.
Jim,
Thanks for the excellent football memories these past several years. We’ll miss you.
Is this really necessary?
Hey guys! Jim’s almost dead!
What a disgrace. We know you want the story first, but really?
One of the all-time great defensive coordinator’s the game has ever seen…
I hate to hear this. My prayers go out to him, his family, and the Eagles.
Not many guys will have it said that he was “one of the best at what he does”. Johnson is one of those guys. 4 and 26 STILL stings!
Am I the only one who saw the title of this post and assumed that “Jim Johnson’s battle nearly over” meant Johnson was about to beat the cancer? Way to get morbid and vague, Florio.
I’ve lost 3 members of my family to cancer. My thoughts and prays are with you and your family.
-Cowboys Fan.
It will be a sad day for football when he passes.
From what ive heard about tumors on the spine, its one of the worst types of cancer to have. Jim Johnson was such a big part of the Eagles success and meant so much to this entire area. I know we will dedicate this season to him and it will push our defense to take us to the promise land. LETS WIN ONE FOR JIMMY!
Sad news for a great coach. RIP Coach Johnson
I’m sorry to hear that. Prayers for him and his family.
Very sad. Thoughts and prayers are with Jim and his family. He’s a heck of a coach and seems like a good person.
Keep fighting JJ!
Damn Shame. One of the best defensive minds in the game!!!
Fight the fight Jim, we’re all pulling for you!
Wow. That’s sad news. He was one of the best.
So sorry to hear that… prayers out to his family and friends. God bless you Jim Johnson.
What a shame. Hopefully we get a miracle and at least get to have the guy for a few more years. And this is coming from a respectful Denver fan. Godspeed Mr. Johnson.
This is horrible news. Professionally, he’ll be remembered as one of the most influential defensive coordinators of his era. Thoughts and prayers with Johnson’s family and the Eagles organization.
Thoughts and prayers to the Johnson family…
God bless you Jim Johnson. You are and always will be one of the greatest d-coordinators the NFL has ever had the pleasure of employing.
I hope you find peace and happiness, wherever this life takes you. You and your family will forever be in our hearts, and our prayers, and we will NEVER forget you.
Sad year in Philadelphia….first Harry Kalas and now Jim….Very sad.
As a Giants fan, I have incredible respect for him.
God bless him
God bless JJ. I hope this report is preumptive and wrong… but if it is not, may you enjoy eternity knowing how much you gave to so many.
No need to feel sad, the guy had a great life. We all gotta die sometime.
This will be a very sad day. Thoughts go out to you JJ….a class act in every way.
Terrible news to hear… My thoughts and prayers are with the Johnson family.
Really is sad Even as a die hard Bills fan i loved the way he coached Everyone in bills nation will be praying
Put up a story when he’s passed, but two eke TWO stories out of the death of a sick man?
Classless.
As a Giants fan I have a great deal of respect for Jim Johnson. His love and attitude towards the game was awesome. I hated when the Giants had to play the Eagles bc I knew Johnson would come up with a tremedous scheme. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Jim. It doesnt matter what team you root for, its a sad day for NFL fans.
Let’s win one each for HK and JJ.
Lurie better pull out all the stops to honor this man during the season. He deserves nothing less. The NFC East is losing a great man and a class act.
wow what a shame
man this hurts…
keep fighting (rip is not called for yet, its not over)
Peace and strength to Jim Johnson and his family. Thank you for some wonderful football.
First of all prayers out th his family. Second he is/was one of the greatest d-coordinators in the game.
Harry Kalas, Gary Papa, Jim Johnson.
Philly’s having a rough year in sports.
Jim, you ARE the best. always will be. watching the Eagles for so many years, only Buddy Ryan’s defense comes close to what you did for the Eagles. and only close. You have made the Eagles a proud organization again.
Long Live Jim Johnson!
Jim Johnson is by far one of the NFL’s best defensive minds the game has ever seen.
My thoughts and prayers to his friends, family and the organization.
Sincerely,
Lifetime Dallas Cowboys Fan.
RIP Mr Johnson. Thanks for the memories. Godspeed buddy.
Eagles Fan’s owe Jim Johnson a lot. This is one of the best defensive minds in the game; he was a true believer in hard work and accountability. He is respected by all players, coaches, and fans.
Even if you were not an Eagle fan, many loved to watch “The mad scientist of the blitz” drive other team’s nuts.
My prayers go out to his wife Vicky and his family; it will not be the same this year without you.
I really hope this report is not true!
Cmon…guys already posting RIP?…..the guy is still battling and last time I checked a bunch of football players could barely spell Dog let alone know what phase cancer is in…
I hope RIP comes for the people, in the near future, that assume this guy is already gone..give the man and family some respect
as a Birds fan since the Roman Gabriel era, my hat’s off to JJ. I’ve seen alotta football in Philly, and he has provided me with many a memorable sunday.
The last time there was a JJ / cancer thread, Vox pissed all over it with totally classless juvenile comments. This time around, it’s GREAT to see fans from our division rivals stepping up and honoring JJ. You Giants, Redskins, and Cowboys fans that have come up classy in here are ALRIGHT by me! All hail the NFC East! we stick together over here.
never a good thing to hear. my sympathies go out to his family & the Eagles.
any true eagles fan knows jim johnson is one of the main reasons for the eagles success this decade and not that fat bastard still roaming the sidelines. i always thought johnson would be promoted to head coach and reid woulda been fired long ago but i guess you cant beat father time.
JJ is a masstermind at coming up with blue prints on how to beat anyone. JJ was basically a HC on the eagles. When Andy had to step away for family issues. JJ held down the fort and the team never missed a beat.
on a side note, After what you reported about Bradshaw, wouldn’t you want to stay as far away from this type of report as you can, Florio. Well, if the same thing happens for JJ as when you reported that Bradshaw died, then I guess you would be considered a dumb luck charm. Great class by the way. Would you want someone to report that you’re almost dead, Florio? Well, I suppose you are more than half way there, considering the way you eat. How bout you speed up the process by taking another trip to philly, you schmuck. This is exactly why you are the laughing stock of NFL reporting, and not taken as seriously as you think you should be.
man coach johnson keep fighting coach! one of my favorite def coordinator….all out blitz the &^%A#* out of the cancer. fight on coach!
Jim Johnson was one of the best defensive coaches ever. One I cursed as a Giants fan twice a year against the Eagles.
I thoroughly hope that Jim Johnson pulls through. He may have taken a turn for the worse, but hope never gives up. Thoughts and prayers are with his family.
By the amount of comments on this thread, it shows how much Johnson meant, even if he rarely got the praise he deserved. Should have been a head coach a long long time ago.
CSN Philly is reporting he has died.
What a damn bummer.
BLITZ!!!
just horrible news,i had hoped he would beat this and still hope so!
Indeed somber news to hear. He’s been a great defensive mind over his time directing the Eagles’ defense, and we can only hope for a miracle.
Jim Johnson has died at age 68 as per TheBlueScreen Sad, sad news: Eagles DC Jim Johnson passes away at age 68. … My heart and prayers go out to his family and the Eagles.
Ralph Vacciano Twitter page
RIP
The Eagles have officially announced his passing on their website. RIP Coach.
Florio, show the man some respect. You don’t put stories up like that. You are selling yourself out and forgetting about the philosophies you believed in when you started this website. Get it together.
NFL.com is reporting that unfortunately JJ has passed away.
RIP Jim. Your teams were a pleasure to watch year in and year out.
You’ll be missed.
This is deserves more attention than the Favre nonsense.
According to ESPN we can now say RIP… so RIP Jim Johnson
ESPN is now reporting that Johnson is no more. This is really a tragedy.
My thoughts and prayers go to his family during this sad time.
RIP JJ. http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=18048
Im a Skins fan, but I have always had tremendous respect for the way johnson coached defense. I always wished we would have had him. My prayers are with you
@ sdfa11: so, JJ’s death is an opportunity to cast aspersions on Andy and mock his weight?
you’re a fool of the highest order.
My father died 5 weeks ago from cancer. It’s tough to watch a loved one go through it. I hope that Jim was able to pass peacefully. It’s a blessing if he did.
The more you fight it, the harder it fights back, taking your dignity with it. I will miss him on the sidelines, but I know he’ll still be “watching” every game.
My thoughts are with Jim and his family.
I watched my Mother,Father,and Brother die from cancer also.You will be missed Coach.