Bill Johnson Dies
Posted/updated on: January 13, 2011 at 2:21 am
CINCINNATI (AP/STAFF) – Tyler native, and former Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach, Bill “Tiger” Johnson, died at his home in Fort Myers, Florida after a long illness. He was 84. Johnson was an All-State player at Tyler High School and played at Texas A&M. He is also a member of the Circle of Honor at Tyler Junior College.
Johnson was on the original Bengals staff in 1968 and spent 17 years with the Bengals, three of them as head coach. He coached the offensive line under Paul Brown before succeeding him. Johnson went 18-15 from 1976-77 and the first five games of 1978. He returned to coach tight ends from 1985-1990.
The Texas native was a center for the San Francisco 49ers. He was also on staff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1979-82) and Detroit Lions (1983-84).
