LB Thomas "Pepper" Johnson (All B1G, All-American, 5x Super Bowl Champion)

Piney · Jan 24, 2005

A snippet from SI.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/don_banks/01/23/snap.judgments.correct/index.html

• Once Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel lands the Cleveland head-coaching job, speculation on his coordinator hire on offense centers on Dallas assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon, who cedes the Cowboys' play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Sean Payton. If Bill Parcells blocks Carthon's path to Cleveland, there are those who believe that Terry Robiskie will remain the Browns' O.C. Robiskie served as Cleveland's offensive coordinator and then interim head coach after Butch Davis left town.

As for defensive coordinator in Cleveland, Crennel will no doubt try to persuade highly-coveted Patriots defensive backs coach Eric Mangini to accompany him to Ohio. But chances are, Belichick will want to keep Mangini and have him replace Crennel as coordinator. A compromise choice? Patriots defensive-line coach Pepper Johnson.
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gold_pants · Feb 4, 2005

LB Pepper Johnson (official thread)

“The cream always finds a way to rise to the top,” Johnson said. “Coach Tressel, when he was at Youngstown State, was a winner. He came to Ohio State and wrenched things back up the way they should be. He brought a lot of the former players like myself back to be affiliated with the program.
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“When rocky times come, you have to weather the storm. Some stuff happened outside the program, but he is a strong-minded person and I know he will battle through that.”
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http://ohiostate.scout.com/2/349574.html

'68Flask · Feb 5, 2005

He says what we truly know about Tres,....and we can look forward to the cream rising for many years to come!

Blood is thicker than water fellas.

JohnnyCockfight · Feb 5, 2005

More love for Pepper

Shortly after Dionte Johnson committed to Ohio State, Duane Long did a good article on the commitment, and Pepper Johnson's reaction to it:

His father, interestingly, had said all along that it didn’t to matter to him where he went as long as he didn’t go to Michigan, but it sounded like he was thrilled for his son when the news came.

“I told him I committed, and he tried to keep it under control, but I could tell he was very excited,” Dionte’ said.
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jlb1705 · Feb 5, 2005

I am really excited about Dionte Johnson. He's obviously been taught the value of hard work and maximum effort, and I think that showed in the fact that he got significant playing time as a true freshman. I look forward to him being the hammer in the backfield that the Buckeyes have been missing since the departure of Jamar Martin.

Bestbuck36 · Feb 5, 2005

Jib, that graphic of Tressel and lloyd is freakin hilarious!!!

BB73 · Feb 5, 2005

His father, interestingly, had said all along that it didn’t to matter to him where he went as long as he didn’t go to Michigan, but it sounded like he was thrilled for his son when the news came.

“I told him I committed, and he tried to keep it under control, but I could tell he was very excited,” Dionte’ said.
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I've told both of my kids they could go anywhere they want. But if they would go to either TSUN or ND, they had to pay for it all by themselves, because those schools wouldn't get a dime out of me.

wadc45 · Jun 20, 2006

Link

PERSONAL
Thomas "Pepper" Johnson was born July 29, 1964 in Detroit, Mich. He was nicknamed "Pepper" by an aunt who observed his ritual of sprinkling pepper on his breakfast cereal as a youngster. After an all-star prep career at MacKenzie High in Detroit, Johnson became a scholar-athlete at Ohio State, where he majored in counseling and physical education. In 1999, his alma mater named him to the school's all-century team. In 2001, he was inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame. He formed Pepper Johnson Enterprises, a non-profit community organization that operates in Detroit to support youth and anti-crime programs. Johnson's many philanthropic endeavors have earned him honors for his work with Special Olympics, the March of Dimes, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Children's Leukemia Foundation and Pepper Johnson’s Youth Foundation. He is also a supporter of the Michael Landon Foundation, the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Dylan MalaMala Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Trey Whitfi eld Foundation. While in New York, he sponsored a charity golf tournament on Long Island to benefi t a home for babies born to drug-addicted mothers. Pepper has a son, Dionte, and resides in Providence, R.I.

COACHING HISTORY
Pepper Johnson is enjoying his 19th season in the NFL, including his sixth season on Bill Belichick's coaching staff. Johnson has been a part of five Super Bowl championship teams, earning a pair of rings during his illustrious 13-year playing career and also contributing to three championship teams as a Patriots assistant coach. All five of his championship rings have been earned while teamed with Coach Belichick. In 2005, Johnson enters his second season mentoring the defensive line after spending three seasons as the Patriots' inside linebackers coach.

In his first season as defensive line coach in 2004, Johnson successfully integrated young talent with a solid veteran presence to form a versatile unit. The line was key in helping New England's run defense rank sixth in the NFL, and the defensive line accounted for 14.5 sacks on the season. Richard Seymour earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth, while 2003 first-round pick Ty Warren enjoyed a solid season, starting all 16 games. Rookie Vince Wilfork was part of formed a successful rotation at nose tackle, and third-year defensive end Jarvis Green ranked second on the unit with four sacks.
In 2003, Johnson coached an inside linebackers unit that was a key part of a defense that held its opponents to a franchise-record and NFL-best 14.9 points per game. The inside linebacking corps was a major reason the Patriots ranked fourth in the NFL in run defense, up from 31st in the league in 2002. In addition, inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi returned two interceptions for touchdowns and credited one of Johnson's practice drills with improving his nose for the ball. Johnson originally joined Coach Belichick's staff as part of the NFL's summer coaching fellowship in the summer of 2000. He spent the season with the Patriots as a defensive assistant, working primarily with the linebackers. In 2001, he joined the staff as the inside linebackers coach, the same position at which he excelled for 13 NFL seasons. After injuries sidelined Ted Johnson and Bryan Cox in 2001, Bruschi made the transition from outside to inside linebacker and helped fuel the Patriots defense through a season-ending win streak that culminated with a Super Bowl title. In 2002, linebackers Phifer and Ted Johnson finished first and second in tackles with 109 and 96 tackles respectively. It was the first time two linebackers led the Patriots in tackles since 1994.

PLAYING
Johnson started 158 of 193 regular season games and played for four different teams during his 13-year NFL career. The two-time Pro Bowl performer won two Super Bowl titles as a member of the New York Giants in 1986 and in 1990. His presence helped form one of the most dominant defensive units in the history of the game. In 13 seasons, he totaled over 1,200 tackles, including 25.5 sacks. He also forced 12 fumbles, recovering eight, and intercepted 14 passes, including two that he returned for touchdowns. In a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1991, he set a franchise record with 4.5 sacks. He played seven seasons with the Giants (1986-92) before joining the Cleveland Browns in 1993. In 1994, he recorded a career-high with 207 tackles for the Browns. He signed with the Detroit Lions for one season in 1996 before being reunited with Bill Belichick in New York when he signed with the Jets in 1997. He played two seasons with the Jets before retiring in 1999. In his first season with the Jets, he was voted team captain before the start of the regular season. A midseason injury vs. New England (10/19/97) sidelined him for the remainder of the season, but he returned as team captain and started every game for the Jets in 1998.
A two-time co-captain and defensive MVP at Ohio State, Johnson was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1986 NFL draft after an All-American campaign as a senior in 1985.
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Buckskin86 · Nov 9, 2007

'Pepper' to be honorary captain Saturday
Friday, November 9, 2007 11:41 AM

The Ohio State football team's honorary captain for its game Saturday against Illinois will be Thomas "Pepper" Johnson, an All-America linebacker who served as team captain for the Buckeyes in 1984 and '85.

Johnson played 13 seasons in the NFL and currently is an assistant coach for the New England Patriots. His son Dionte, one of the 2007 team captains, will be playing his final game in Ohio Stadium on Saturday.
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : 'Pepper' to be honorary captain Saturday

Padraig · Nov 9, 2007

Very cool for Pepper, Dionte, and the rest of the Buckeyes! :osu:

MililaniBuckeye · Nov 9, 2007

How cool is that to be honorary captain on the Senior Day that's also the final home game of your team captain son's career? He'll have to wear a shirt two sizes bigger because how big his chest will be...

Ttown · Nov 9, 2007

I would be so proud!

Fungo Squiggly · Nov 9, 2007

BucyrusBuckeye;988346; said:

I would be so proud!

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For sure! It'll be an awesome day for the Johnson family.

JCOSU86 · Nov 9, 2007

I believe Pepper was a captain during his days at OSU. He was the man when I was there.

Padraig · Nov 9, 2007

JCOSU86;988369; said:

I believe Pepper was a captain during his days at OSU. He was the man when I was there.
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Correct...Captain in both '84 & '85

:osu:

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LB Thomas "Pepper" Johnson (All B1G, All-American, 5x Super Bowl Champion)

Piney Stay thirsty my friends Former Game Champion

gold_pants Sophmore

'68Flask B-Deck, Dogs and Spirits

JohnnyCockfight Beer is God's proof that he loves us.

jlb1705 hipster doofus Bookie

Bestbuck36 Kyle Young/Cade Stover man crush. Not ashamed

BB73 Loves Buckeye History Staff Member Bookie '16 & '17 Upset Contest Winner

wadc45 Bourbon, Bow Ties and Baseball Hats Staff Member BP Recruiting Team

Buckskin86 Moderator

Padraig Jesus loves you, the rest of us think ur an idiot. Former FF Keeper Champ

MililaniBuckeye The satanic soulless freight train that is Ohio St Staff Member Tech Admin

Ttown WTH is an Illini? Dead goose?

Fungo Squiggly Mortal enemy of all things Bucky Yahoo Pickem Champ Former Game Champion '18 Keeper League Champ '18 BPCFFB II Champ

JCOSU86 Go Bucks! Staff Member

Padraig Jesus loves you, the rest of us think ur an idiot. Former FF Keeper Champ

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LB Thomas "Pepper" Johnson (All B1G, All-American, 5x Super Bowl Champion)

Piney Stay thirsty my friends Former Game Champion

gold_pants Sophmore

'68Flask B-Deck, Dogs and Spirits

JohnnyCockfight Beer is God's proof that he loves us.

jlb1705 hipster doofus Bookie

Bestbuck36 Kyle Young/Cade Stover man crush. Not ashamed

BB73 Loves Buckeye History Staff Member Bookie '16 & '17 Upset Contest Winner

wadc45 Bourbon, Bow Ties and Baseball Hats Staff Member BP Recruiting Team

Buckskin86 Moderator

Padraig Jesus loves you, the rest of us think ur an idiot. Former FF Keeper Champ

MililaniBuckeye The satanic soulless freight train that is Ohio St Staff Member Tech Admin

Ttown WTH is an Illini? Dead goose?

Fungo Squiggly Mortal enemy of all things Bucky Yahoo Pickem Champ Former Game Champion '18 Keeper League Champ '18 BPCFFB II Champ

JCOSU86 Go Bucks! Staff Member

Padraig Jesus loves you, the rest of us think ur an idiot. Former FF Keeper Champ

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