In 2005, Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson stunned the NFL world when he rushed for 1,750 yards and 20 touchdowns.
He promptly repeated the feat a year later when Johnson wrapped 2006 with 1,789 yards and 17 scores.
Johnson’s two-year totals were a surprise because he had only accumulated 666 total yards in his first two years.
Larry Johnson #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/IZs2SwJ2Ad
— Vintage KCChiefs (@Vintage_Chiefs) March 2, 2024
However, those who knew the running back best were already aware of what he was capable of on a football field.
While playing in college for Penn State, Johnson had pedestrian numbers his first three seasons, then thrashed opponents to the tune of 2,087 yards as a senior.
As great as he was on the gridiron, Johnson consistently found himself in trouble off the field.
Since 2003 he has been arrested six times and continues to make people cringe with outlandish takes on social media.
Due to his wild swings of emotion, Johnson has speculated that he is living with CTE and that the condition is making his life difficult.
This is the story of the talented, yet troubled, life of Larry Johnson.
Son of a Coach
Larry Alphonso Johnson Jr. was born in Pomfret, Maryland on November 19, 1979.
When his son was born, Larry Johnson Sr. was a high school football coach and vice principal at McDonough High School in Maryland.
One of the best in the business has called the @bigten home since 1996.
From @PennStateFball to @OhioStateFB, Larry Johnson (@R2X_Rushmen1) knows how to develop @NFL defensive linemen. pic.twitter.com/24SLeg3LaK
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 30, 2018
He would later become the head coach at T.C. Williams High School in Virginia, a school best known for being the subject of the movie Remember the Titans in 2000.
As a youngster, Larry Jr. desperately wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and began playing football in elementary school.
While returning a kick as a nine-year-old, Larry sustained a hard hit from an opponent.
The collision caused him to spend the remainder of the game on the sidelines, still dizzy from the impact.
At that point, Johnson looked toward his father, who was sitting in the stands, and believed that his dad was upset that his son wasn’t toughing it out.
From then on, Johnson did everything in his power to show resilience and power through sheer force of will and, occasionally, a cheap shot or two.
“I didn’t know how to redeem myself,” Johnson said in 2017.
While playing ball in middle school, Johnson would find out all he could about his upcoming opponent, looking for anything negative.
During the games, he would taunt kids from broken homes and make a hard hit just after the whistle blew.
Johnson was also not above yelling at coaches who dared to bench him or argue with teammates.
“I’d be like: ‘Dad, you saw that?’ It was a point of pride,” Johnson continued, and he came to believe, in an era that glamorized masculinity and intimidation, that “this is what tough means.”
Johnson Sr. explained that he didn’t approve of his son’s behavior but also recognized where Larry Jr. found his athletic motivation.
“He ran with rage, and it was just his way of saying, ‘I’m not going to let this opportunity get away,’” the coach said. “It might have taken him to places he didn’t think he would go.”
Following Dad to Penn State
When Larry was in high school, his father took a position as an assistant coach for Joe Paterno at Penn State.
The family moved to Pennsylvania and Larry played prep football with State College Area High School.
While there, Johnson played running back well enough that he received a scholarship opportunity from Paterno to play at State.
Junior gladly accepted as he would be able to remain close to his father, the Nittany Lions’ defensive ends and special teams coach.
Despite his dad’s presence, Johnson was buried on the depth chart for his first three years at PSU.
Larry Johnson | Penn State Running Back 1999-2002 pic.twitter.com/oyGcN4XfuR
— Random Penn State Athletes (@PennRandom) June 6, 2023
After a freshman season in 1999 when he had 171 rushing yards and two combined touchdowns, Johnson increased his totals to 358 yards and four combined scores in 2000.
As a junior, Johnson toted the rock 71 times and gained 337 yards and four total scores.
During that same period, the Nittany Lions struggled, winning only five games each in ‘00 and ‘01.
Johnson’s Break-Out Season
Just when Johnson thought he would never see the light of day as a starter, he was thrust into the role as a senior in 2002.
PSU began the year 3-0 as the 6’1”, 230-pound Johnson began showing his love of contact every time he carried the ball.
Larry Johnson is a top __ Penn State running back of all time⁉️🤔 pic.twitter.com/Y6DQfOIKmi
— State Media (@StateMediaPSU) July 19, 2023
In the sixth game of the season against Northwestern, Johnson went over, through, and sometimes, around the Wildcats, amassing 257 yards on the ground.
That broke former Nittany Lion Curt Warner’s single-game program record by one yard.
Two weeks later, Johnson bruised and battered the Illinois Fighting Illini for 279 yards then hung a ridiculous 327 yards on Indiana on November 16.
Finally, in the regular season finale against Michigan State, Johnson carried the ball 19 times and gained 279 yards.
PSU was so far ahead of the Spartans by halftime, that Johnson didn’t carry the ball during the second half.
He ended the regular season with just over 2,000 yards rushing and added 72 more in the Nittany Lions’ 13-9 Capitol One Bowl loss to Auburn.
“I always felt like I was a gifted player who kept getting put in the back of the line,” said Johnson in 2006. “That’s when I learned to question my coaches. That’s why I started thinking it was me and my father against the world. That’s where I get my scowl. When it comes to trust, I’m a late bloomer.”
Snubbed for the Heisman
Johnson’s 2,087 yards led the country and he became the first player in the 2,000-yard rushing club to reach that amount in only 251 carries.
(The University of Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon would break Johnson’s record in 2014 by reaching 2,000 in 241 carries).
Johnson led the Big Ten Conference in yards per attempt (7.7) and rushing touchdowns (20).
We are Larry Johnson days from Penn State Football #5 #WeAre pic.twitter.com/dcfaNmdJ9X
— PS Football U (@psufootballu) August 27, 2022
He also caught a career-high 41 passes for 349 yards and three more touchdowns.
His combined totals of 312 plays from scrimmage and 23 scores also led the conference.
Although Johnson was named first-team All-Big Ten, Unanimous All-American, chosen as the recipient of the Walter Camp and Doak Walker Awards and the Jim Brown Trophy, he was snubbed for the Heisman Trophy by USC quarterback Carson Palmer.
Kansas City Selects Johnson
In 2002, Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes rushed for 1,615 yards and an NFL-best 21 touchdowns.
Even with his fantastic output, the Chiefs went 8-8.
The franchise had the league’s best offense, yet languished with a 28th-ranked defense.
Armed with that knowledge, then-Kansas City head coach Dick Vermeil wanted to grab a defender in the 2003 NFL Draft.
Instead, the Chiefs front office decided that two good running backs were the answer to their problems and selected Johnson with the 27th overall pick.
Larry Johnson #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/nsnCm32MTb
— Vintage KCChiefs (@Vintage_Chiefs) March 13, 2024
Johnson was primarily an onlooker in his rookie year while Holmes embarrassed defenses yet again with 1,420 yards and an NFL-best 27 touchdowns.
Holmes’ touchdown mark set a league record at the time.
Because of his teammate’s success, Johnson appeared in only six games and tallied 85 yards and one touchdown in 2003.
“Take the Diapers Off!”
In 2004, Holmes was having another great year before getting injured halfway through the season.
Vermeil was reluctant to replace his star with Johnson because of the latter’s poor work ethic.
The coach became so upset with Johnson’s attitude that he publicly told his running back to, “Take the diapers off.”
Although Vermeil later apologized for the remark, Johnson wasn’t thrilled.
“I don’t need no motivation,” Johnson said. “If I need motivation, I’ll talk to my father. I don’t need another grown man telling me I need to take the diapers off. I don’t really listen to that kind of stuff,” Johnson said of Vermeil’s comments. “If the man can’t say something in my face, that’s how I feel. It don’t mean nothing to me.”
Ultimately, Vermeil consented that Johnson would have to carry the rushing load.
“He has all the talent in the world,” Vermeil said of Johnson, “and sooner or later, he’ll have his opportunity to take advantage of it.”
In three starts and 10 game appearances that season, Johnson had 581 yards and nine touchdowns for 7-9 Kansas City.
Finally Getting His Shot
In 2005, Holmes was seriously injured during a game against the San Diego Chargers and would miss the remainder of the season and all of 2006.
His absence meant that Johnson was the primary ball carrier and he did not disappoint.
Starting just nine times, he reminded fans of his Penn State days with 1,750 yards, 20 touchdowns, and another score as a receiver.
I’ve talked about this several times but it’s still mind blowing. Larry Johnson only started 9 games for the Chiefs in 2005 and finished the year with 1720 rush yards, 2,063 total yards, 20 rush TDs, and 5.2 yards per carry. https://t.co/b92AiT6iG4 pic.twitter.com/hfU4fThiW7
— Chase Snyder (@ChasingSnyder) August 10, 2023
In a start against the Houston Texans in Week 11, Johnson set a franchise record with 211 yards on the ground and scored twice.
All nine of his starts netted 100+ yard rushing days and Johnson was selected for his first Pro Bowl and picked as a second-team All-Pro.
A New Attitude?
When the season ended with Kansas City just missing the playoffs at 10-6, Vermeil retired from coaching and former New York Jets coach Herm Edwards took over.
Edwards immediately named Johnson his starting tailback and also encouraged the truculent star to be a team leader, which caught him somewhat off guard.
“This is the first time a coach has said he needs me to do that,” Johnson said. “Now I have to say things that I wouldn’t have said before. I can’t go out and party like I used to. I’m trying hard, but I’m also fighting those old demons. I won’t lie–I want people to think better of me.”
Instead of being withdrawn and sullen around teammates, Johnson took Edwards’s challenge to heart and tried to be more outgoing.
“The first couple years Larry was here, he would be off doing his own thing when the team got together,” said guard Will Shields. “Now he’s part of the group. You see the running backs gathering around him in practice. You see him interacting with teammates. You definitely see a change.”
Now that he was expected to be a team leader, Johnson set out to be an example on the field as well.
Larry Johnson #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/hwd1wFxqmy
— Vintage KCChiefs (@Vintage_Chiefs) April 17, 2024
In 2006, he led the NFL with 416 rushing attempts (also a league record) and was second in the NFL with 1,789 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Johnson also hauled in a career-high 41 receptions for 410 yards and two scores.
The 9-7 Chiefs made the postseason but lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round.
When the season ended, Johnson went to his second Pro Bowl and was honored with a first-team All-Pro nod.
Trouble Brewing
While Johnson was exceptional on the field, his actions off the field were a problem.
During his first year with Kansas City, Johnson was arrested for domestic battery and aggravated assault for allegedly slapping a woman and threatening her with a gun.
He was able to avoid jail time by agreeing to attend anger management counseling and complete 120 hours of community service.
Vermeil, the Chiefs coach at the time, backed his player.
“I’ve been told his side of it, and I believe him … (I) always believe the player. You know him so well. I always go on that side,” said Vermeil.
In 2005, Johnson allegedly pushed a woman at a nightclub and was arrested for assault.
Chiefs are re signing Kareem Hunt.@Chiefs what is it with you guys and your obsession with woman beating running backs that wear the number 27?
First Larry Johnson.
Now Kareem Hunt, again.Both with video evidence.
I just don’t get it dude.
KC has zero morals. pic.twitter.com/TzKkfuXJIs
— Sydney Brabender (@SydneyBrabender) September 17, 2024
The charges were later dropped when the accuser failed to appear in court.
Then, in 2008, Johnson was arrested twice more.
The first occurred in February of 2008 when he was arrested for shoving a woman’s head at a nightclub.
His second arrest for assault happened in the middle of a season where he rushed for 874 yards and five touchdowns in 12 starts for the Chiefs.
Johnson was at yet another nightclub when he was accused of spitting at a woman and threatening to kill the woman’s boyfriend.
Years later, Johnson would share that he didn’t believe the Chiefs were able to understand or help players like himself.
“I don’t think they’re really equipped to handle these kids,” Johnson said. “You have old men who don’t hang around young black kids the majority of their lives. They only look at us as far as stock or employees. That’s all they know of us.”
Beginning of the End
In 2009, Johnson began the year by pleading guilty to disturbing the peace in March.
He then found difficulty gaining traction on the field during the season and only had 377 yards through seven games.
Larry Johnson about to punish the Raider defender #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/cEFXrR576W
— Vintage KCChiefs (@Vintage_Chiefs) May 21, 2022
In late October, Kansas City suspended Johnson for his comments on Twitter where he used gay slurs directed at media members and criticized then-Chiefs head coach Todd Haley.
The running back apologized, but by then it was too late.
While he was serving his suspension, fans of the franchise wrote to team management asking that Johnson not be permitted to return to the team.
Essentially, the fans did not want Johnson to pass Holmes’ all-time franchise rushing record.
“While we are thankful for his service, we feel that Larry has been a black eye on the organization and has no business being mentioned” among the team’s all-time greats, the petition read. “We are asking you, as fans of this team, this organization, and of the pride that this city has in the Chiefs, please deactivate Larry Johnson. Please do not let his name sit atop the all-time rushing leaders in Kansas City Chiefs history. He has never represented anything close to the values that we have for our Chiefs and it would be another dagger to the fans that continue to support this proud franchise.”
At the time, Holmes had 6,070 total yards as a Chief while Johnson was perched at 5,996.
On November 9, 2009, Kansas City officially parted ways with Johnson.
“We decided it was in the best interests of the Kansas City Chiefs organization to move forward at this time,” said Haley.
Johnson Retires
Shortly after his release, Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and backed up starter Cedric Benson.
Here is a picture of Larry Johnson in a Bengals uniform. That is all. pic.twitter.com/QEW90XRp4g
— Natalie Miller 🏈 (@Nat_NFLDraft) May 31, 2022
He rushed for 204 yards in seven games.
Before 2010, Johnson signed with the Washington Redskins but was released after only a few weeks.
The Miami Dolphins took a shot in 2011 but he was released after Week 2.
Johnson retired following the season.
During his career, Johnson rushed for 6,223 yards and 55 touchdowns and had 154 receptions for 1,373 yards and six more scores.
He was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro.
Still Causing Trouble
After leaving pro football, Johnson continued to find himself in trouble.
In 2012, he was arrested in Las Vegas for domestic violence against a former girlfriend.
Just months after Johnson completed the court-ordered counseling and community service for his 2012 case, he was arrested for the sixth time in October 2014 for punching a man at a Miami Beach nightclub.
When a blood sacrifice pays off. Lol.
Alexa, what is Gematria? https://t.co/wXMUidFnIc
— Larry Johnson (@2LarryJohnson7) October 12, 2020
Since then, Johnson has posted questionable content on “X” including his claims that Jewish people worship Satan, that Kobe Bryan was a “blood sacrifice” of LeBron James to win a championship, and that former NFL quarterback Tom Brady and several other NFL players are part of the occult.
CTE?
In 2017, Johnson was interviewed by the Washington Post and he shared that he believes CTE is the cause of all his troubles.
“I could be Aaron Hernandez,” Johnson said, referring to the former New England star who died in 2017 and was diagnosed posthumously with CTE.
Since CTE can only be found by conducting an autopsy, there is no way of knowing whether Johnson indeed suffers from the condition.
The former running back has also stated that he is already experiencing memory problems and can’t remember playing in two of his NFL seasons.
Just to get by, Johnson has said in interviews that he is leaning on God and that his daughter, Jaylen, keeps him grounded.
“She’s, like, a good distraction I have,” Johnson said, adding: “She sees something in me that most people will never see.”
References
https://vault.si.com/vault/2006/09/04/back-in-the-open
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ex-nfl-star-cant-remember-two-seasons_n_5a313cb4e4b091ca26848d95
https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1887031
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/larry-johnson-1.html
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/chiefs-release-rb-larry-johnson
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/larry-johnson-chiefs-reach-settlement
https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4622503
https://www.the-sun.com/sport/9371433/forgotten-nfl-legend-larry-johnson-cte/
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnLa00.htm
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