Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson’s play is worth a thousand tackles

It was opening day 2005 when Chiefs rookie linebacker Derrick Johnson crashed into Hall of Fame-bound running back Curtis Martin and stopped him for a 1-yard gain.

That was 981 tackles ago.

Johnson, the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick that year, led the team with nine tackles, a sack and forced fumble in his NFL debut, a 27-7 victory over the New York Jets at Arrowhead Stadium. Johnson hasn’t stopped tackling since.

Johnson needs 19 tackles to surpass the franchise record of 999 established by linebacker Gary Spani during 1978-86. Tackles can be an inconsistently kept statistic from game to game and team to team and weren’t even compiled until 1977.

But make no mistake. For 10 years, Derrick Johnson has made his living attacking the football. Whether stuffing a runner between the tackles, chasing a speedster on the perimeter, covering a receiver out of the backfield or rushing the quarterback, Johnson is the most consistent playmaker in the Chiefs’ defense.

“He’s a pro, in every aspect of it,” coach Andy Reid said. “He just handles everything the right way. In the classroom, on the field, off the field. He’s top notch.”

Johnson’s combination of athleticism, intelligence and preparation has enabled him to be the club’s longest-tenured position player.

“I’ve been blessed with the Chiefs, being here this long,” said Johnson, 31. “The main part is staying healthy, being out there, being accountable, being responsible, staying on the field when they need me. This year I have an opportunity to break the record pretty early in the year. It’s exciting.

“It’s something I wasn’t set on … but I’m glad to be up there in the running with some great players.”

The record could fall in week two at Denver, likely will fall in week three at Miami, but definitely by the Monday night game against New England in week four.

“Hopefully it’s a big play,” Johnson said. “Maybe a game-winning tackle. Or some kind of big hit in the backfield. Not a drag-down tackle at the end of an 80-yard run.

“If I hadn’t got benched that one year, I probably would already have the record, but I’m not going to talk about that. I always look at the glass as half full.”

The year Johnson was consigned to part-time duty was in 2009, when new coach Todd Haley banished him to special teams and a role in the nickel defense. Johnson started three games and made just 33 tackles, though he finished the season strong with 45- and 60-yard interception returns for touchdowns in the season finale at Denver.

Johnson regained his starting spot in 2010 and hasn’t missed a start except for sitting out last year’s regular-season finale at San Diego with the rest of the regulars. Johnson has led the Chiefs in tackles for the last four seasons — including 107 last year — was voted team MVP in 2011 and has been selected to three Pro Bowls.

Johnson plans to add several hundred tackles to his total before his career is over.

“I’ve got a lot left in me,” Johnson said. “Each offseason I go back to Texas and work out. Working out with Jamaal Charles keeps you young. You have to run fast, be stronger, be smarter. The offseason rejuvenates me. It gives me a new mind-set: ‘Hey I can do even better than last year.’ The way my career has gone, my better years are my later years.”

Johnson showed his competitive spirit in last year’s Pro Bowl. Though not originally selected for the all-star game, he was a late addition for injured NaVorro Bowman. Johnson was all but ignored again when he was the very last pick in the player draft instituted for the game.

All he did was make nine tackles, including a crunching hit on Charles, deflected a pass and was awarded a new truck as defensive MVP. In Johnson’s two previous Pro Bowls, he returned interceptions 42 yards and 60 yards for touchdowns.

“I’ve always got a chip on my shoulder when I step on the field,” Johnson said. “In the Pro Bowl, not everybody is going hard. I’m going hard. That’s the only way you can play football that I know.”

Johnson’s success in the Pro Bowl has done little to assuage the disappointment he’s experienced in postseason play. The Chiefs have lost all three playoff games in which he’s participated. Like most of his teammates, had a hard time coming to grips with the Chiefs blowing a 38-10 third-quarter lead in last year’s 45-44 first-round loss at Indianapolis.

“It was disappointing for us, as well as we played during the year, especially the first half of the season,” Johnson said of the 9-0 start. “We played the first half (at Indianapolis) really good. The second half, we fell apart for whatever reason. But you have to learn from your mistakes, even though it shouldn’t happen. But it did … if we’re in that situation again where we have that lead, know how to handle it.”

Johnson made just three tackles in the playoff game, and he conceded it wasn’t a vintage performance.

“I’m responsible for what I do,” Johnson said. “I could have played better. I could have made some plays out there to help us win the game. Losing so close … maybe I could have made some plays to make the difference.

“Knowing we had an opportunity to do even better in the playoffs, and we didn’t seize the moment. This year, there is so much on the table, personally with the record and team-wise. … As a veteran, you have to bring the young guys along to know if we’re in the situation again, this needs to happen, this needs to happen to get the job done.”

This story was originally published July 27, 2014 at 8:59 PM with the headline "Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson’s play is worth a thousand tackles."