Dallas Cowboys Johnson was selected by the
Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round (87th overall) of the
1976 NFL draft. In
1978, he tied an
NFL record with the most punt returns (9) in a game, while playing against the
Buffalo Bills. He set a franchise record with 45 punt returns for 489 yards. He also returned 28 kickoffs for 693 yards (24.8-yard avg.). In
1977, he alternated with
Golden Richards, recording 12 receptions for 135 yards (11.3-yard average) and one
touchdown. He also returned a club record 50 punts and led the team with 22 kickoff returns. At the end of the year in
Super Bowl XII against the
Denver Broncos, he had his most notable career highlight, a 45-yard diving
touchdown reception from
Roger Staubach, which is considered to be a "
Super Bowl Classic". In the
Dallas Morning News newspaper, after
Super Bowl XII, on Monday, January 16,
1978, the front-page photo was titled "Outfielder Butch", referring to his diving touchdown grab in the end zone, despite a broken thumb he suffered earlier in the game. In
1978, although he couldn't earn a starting role over
Tony Hill, he became the leading punt returner in franchise history while breaking again his single-season record with 51 punt returns and also placed second on the Cowboys all-time kickoff return list. He had another
touchdown reception in
Super Bowl XIII which the Cowboys lost to the
Pittsburgh Steelers, making him the second player in NFL history to score
touchdowns in back-to-back
Super Bowls. In
1979, he fractured his right little finger in the preseason finale against the Steelers and was forced to miss the first 5 games. With both Hill and
Drew Pearson having 1,000-yard seasons, his opportunities were limited. He started in the 15th game against the
Philadelphia Eagles in place of an injured Pearson, and caught a deflected 17-yard pass for the decisive
touchdown in the playoff-clinching victory. He also stopped returning punts and kickoffs. In
1981, he started the first 6 games in place of an injured Hill, finishing the season with 25 receptions for 552 yards and 5 receiving
touchdowns (tied for the team lead). He also developed a
touchdown celebration known as the "California Quake", where he would simulate pulling guns out of holsters and proceed to shoot them and shake. It became one of the most famous individual celebrations in league history, and one of the reasons the NFL banned rehearsed end-zone
touchdown celebrations. In
1983, he had his best year with 41 receptions for 561 yards, but he had grown tired of his third receiver status and requested a trade. On April 12,
1984, even though Pearson had suffered a career-ending injury, the Cowboys granted his wishes and traded him to the
Houston Oilers in exchange for
wide receiver Mike Renfro, plus the right to swap second-round picks in the
1984 NFL draft and the Oilers' fifth-rounder in the
1985 NFL draft. A year later, the Cowboys used that fifth round pick to select
running back Herschel Walker. For a long time he was considered one of the best-backup
wide receivers in the NFL, but during his 8 seasons with the Cowboys he could never earn a starter position. As the third receiver during that time, he was primarily known for his acrobatic and clutch receptions. Besides leaving as the second leading punt returner in franchise history, he also was one of two players in club history to rank in the top ten career list in both kickoff and punt return average yards.
Houston Oilers In
1984, Johnson's outrageous personality and flamboyant on-field antics wore thin with the
Houston Oilers very quickly, who after 3 deliberately poor played preseason games, traded him to the
Denver Broncos in exchange of a third round draft choice (#58-Tyrone Davis) on August 20.
Denver Broncos In
1984, he reunited with head coach
Dan Reeves who was his offensive coordinator with the Cowboys. He had career highs with 11 starts, 42 receptions (third on the team) for 587 yards (second on the team) and 6 receiving
touchdowns (second on the team). Against the
New England Patriots, he posted 9 receptions for 156 yards. The next year, an injury slowed his performance and eventually lost his starting job to
Vance Johnson. He registered 8 starts, 19 receptions for 380 yards, a 20-yard average (led the team) and 3
touchdowns, but went 6 weeks late in the season without a single catch. He was released on August 18,
1986. Johnson played in the
NFL for 10 seasons, catching 193 passes for 3,091 yards and 28
touchdowns. He appeared in 5
NFC Championship Games and 2
Super Bowls. He also tied the
Super Bowl records for most fumble recoveries in one game and most career fumble recoveries (2). ==NFL career statistics==