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One of the greatest football players ever to don the red and white only joined the sport after a chance encounter with a classmate in grade 12.
Jeff Johnson was a terrific athlete growing up and had tried everything but football. Claiming he was good at all of them but not great at any, he finally found his niche on the gridiron just days after first suiting up.
“I was going about my day-to-day at school and a guy in the grade ahead of me passed me in the weight room and thought I looked strong so he told me I should try out for the football team,” said Johnson about how he took up the sport. “After school that same day, my buddy told me he was going to the tryout so I went along as well and enjoyed it. Just a couple of days in, the guy ahead of me got hurt so I got to play. I had no idea what I was doing and running scared but I had five touchdowns in my first game!”
That debut performance and the ones that followed created a buzz, but when it came time to choose a university Johnson was more interested in a strong kinesiology program than anything related to football. However, York University head football coach Tom Arnott sold him on the possibility of both and the next season he was a Yeoman.
What followed was one of the greatest careers in football program history. He began with a bang, winning the OUA and CIS rookie of the year awards and he is still the program’s only national major award winner. He was also a three-time OUA all-star and a two-time CIS all-Canadian, and he holds the York record for most career rushing yards (3358) and carries (553) and ranks third in yards per carry (6.1).
Johnson’s impressive numbers earned him an invite to the Canadian combine, where he quickly turned heads.
“I finished first or second in every category and that put me on the map. Before that I thought it was a long shot that I would get selected, but I got a lot of hype before the draft and it became my focus. I was pretty crushed when it didn’t happen, but that was motivation to continue to work hard so that I could get an opportunity in the CFL.”
He returned to York to finish his kinesiology degree and then another opportunity to play professionally presented itself when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats called the day before training camp began to offer him a tryout. After impressing specifically in the kick return game, he earned a spot on the team and spent two seasons in Steeltown before his hometown Toronto Argonauts came calling.
Twelve years later, Johnson retired after 198 games played, the fifth most in Argos history, and two Grey Cup championships.
“It was awesome getting to play for my city. It was a unique opportunity to play for my hometown team and I jumped on it. I grew up watching the Argos and used to run around in my Condredge Holloway jersey. Playing for the team was a dream come true!”
Since retiring after the 2013 season, he is now the director of business development for Kinduct Technologies, a health data technology company that works with professional sport organizations to aggregate data and recommend exercise and rehab protocols.
Throughout his professional football career Johnson was known for his tremendous work ethic, and he has excelled wherever he has gone. There is no doubt he will continue to do the same in his latest endeavour in the business world.
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