Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 best running backs in franchise history
By Randy Gurzi
(1960-65). John Henry Johnson. 6. player. 55. . FB
Greatest running backs in Pittsburgh Steelers history: #6. John Henry Johnson
While the aforementioned Frank Pollard played for the Steelers right after their 1970s dynasty, John Henry Johnson was there for the stretch just before they achieved greatness.
He joined them in 1960 after spending the first six seasons of his career split evenly between the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions. Before that, the Arizona State product played the 1953 CFL season with the Calgary Stampeders.
Oddly enough, he was drafted by Pittsburgh that season, but he decided to play in Canada instead. Johnson then signed with the 49ers in 1954. He was later traded to Detroit and helped lead them to their final NFL Championship.
Finally coming full circle, he joined Pittsburgh in 1960 after two less than stellar seasons with the Lions. At 31 years of age, it was believed he was over the hill and on the decline. However, the fullback proved the talk of his demise to be greatly exaggerated.
Johnson ended up playing the best football of his career, making three of his four Pro Bowl appearances while playing for Pittsburgh. He also had his only two seasons with more than 1,000 yards as he hit 1,141 in 1962 and 1,048 in 1964 — Johnson put up seven touchdowns in each of these campaigns as well.
In all, he had 6,803 career rushing yards and 48 touchdowns. However, he had 4,381 of those yards and 26 touchdowns with the Steelers — when he was supposed to be on the decline. In 1987, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his work on the field.