Johnson was selected by the
San Francisco 49ers of the
National Football League (NFL) in the seventh round, with the 166th overall pick, of the
1974 NFL draft and by the
Southern California Sun of the
World Football League (WFL) in the second round, with the 18th overall pick, of the
1974 WFL draft. He played in 19 games for the Sun during the
1974 WFL season, rushing 249 times for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns while also catching 44 passes for 393 yards and one touchdown. Johnson's agent stated "We had a specific clause over and above the contract that says if payment is delinquent, we have the right to declare the players free agents." He appeared in 11 games, starting one, in 1976, totaling 32 rushing attempts for 99 yards and one touchdown, one reception for 11 yards, and four kick returns for 114 yards. Johnson was released on September 13, 1977, before the start of the 1977 season. ==Personal life==