LB Monte Johnson Started, Finished for Raiders

Too many people didn’t project linebacker Monte Johnson to become a starter, but he went on and did far more than the experts projected.

Too many people didn’t project linebacker Monte Johnson to become a starter, let alone a standout when the Oakland Raiders selected him in the second round (No. 49 overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft out of Nebraska.

That’s because, even though the Cornhuskers claimed national championships in 1970 and 1971 during his time in Lincoln, Neb., Johnson didn’t start a single game in his four seasons with Nebraska.

“Although I never started at Nebraska, during my senior year, I shared playing time with Bill Jansen, one of the team co-captains that year,” the 6-5, 240-pound Johnson recalled. “After the season, I asked (Nebraska Coach) Bob Devaney to get me into a post-season game to try and get some additional exposure. He was successful, and I was invited to play in the All-American Bowl in Tampa, Fla. I got in because Bob was then named head coach for the game.

“At a practice before the game, Al Davis and Ron Wolf (head of player personnel for the Raiders) watched a drill where I was filling in at linebacker. After the drill, Mr. Davis said he would draft me and believed I could play any of seven positions for the Raiders. The day of the draft, when the Raiders draft selection came up for the second round, Mr. Davis wanted to select me. He reportedly was the only favorable vote in the room. It was the only vote since he was the owner and general manager.

“Since he was the owner and general manager, it was the only vote that counted.”

Johnson played on the defensive line at Nebraska and was a backup linebacker for the Raiders in his first two seasons, in which he played at all three linebacker positions. However, he became a full-time starter at middle linebacker in 1975. He was a key contributor inside when the Raiders were forced to go to a 3-4 defensive alignment in 1976 because of several injuries along the defensive line.

Johnson showed his versatility by not only playing well against the run (although again, we don’t know how many tackles he had because they were not yet an official NFL statistic), in addition being a strong pass rusher and playing well in pass coverage.

In 1976, Johnson had seven sacks, four interceptions that he returned for 40 yards, including a long of 22, and three fumble recoveries as the Raiders posted a 13-1 regular season record. In addition, Johnson made another interception as the Raiders beat the New England Patriots, 24-21, in the first round of the playoffs, helped shut down the Pittsburgh Steelers running game in a 24-7 victory in the AFC Championship Game, and made five total tackles in a 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI.

“Our entire team really played well, but Monte Johnson and the defensive were really outstanding in shutting down (quarterback) Fran Tarkenton and (running back) Chuck Foreman and the rest of the Vikings offense,” Raiders quarterback Kenny “Snake” Stabler said in the locker room after the game.

However, the best game in Johnson’s Raiders career came the following season in the famed “Ghost to the Post Game” against the Baltimore Colts in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.

The Raiders stayed alive on a miracle pass from Kenny Stabler to Dave Casper to set up a game-tying field goal that forced overtime before Stabler hit Casper with a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the Raiders a 37-31 victory in the second overtime.

Johnson was the unsung hero, making 22 tackles and two sacks of quarterback Bert Jones before he learned afterward that he sustained a broken vertebra in his neck during regulation play, but he didn’t think of coming out of the game.

In addition, Johnson also was a starter in 1980, when the Raiders won Super Bowl XV, 27-10, over the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, he sustained a knee injury during the season and missed the playoffs.

During Johnson’s eight-year career, the Raiders played in 11 playoff games, posting a record of 7-4, competing in six AFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls.

Despite his outstanding play, and perhaps because of the great players around him, Johnson somehow never earned All-Pro or Pro Bowl recognition despite his play definitely being in that category.

Johnson was a big part of the 1976 Raiders, who, in at least one poll, have been voted the greatest NFL team ever.

After retiring from professional football in 1981 following eight seasons with the Raiders due to a knee injury, Johnson moved to Atlanta, where he has his own business, Family Capital Management.

Johnson lit the Al Davis Memorial Torch before a game against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 28, 2016, at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:

OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15

Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8

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