Truly one of the GOATs. I remember him well from the late 60s early 70s Niners. He and Kermit Alexander made a pretty formidable pair of DBs. Same Niners team with Gene Washington John Brodie (both from Stanford), and Ted Kwalick.
Yah ever see those tiny fish that follow sharks and whales, moving in unison with those big fish? That was Jimmy Johnson on any WR.. He was unbelievable.. If Jimmy was in his prime today he could cover all these dudes today.. I have no doubt.. Incredible body control and instinct. He would just track a guy, flip his head and knock down the pass or pick it..
He was the brother of the great Olympic decathlete Rafer Johnson. There might have not been two more athletically gifted brothers born in the 20th Century.. RIP Jimmy.