Darrius Johnson

Darrius Johnson was born on May 18, 1973, in Terrell, Texas. Grokipedia notes some sources give September 17, 1973. At Terrell High School, class of 1991, he played both ways and was voted Best All Around and Most Athletic. As a senior captain he was the second-leading rusher in Texas. At Oklahoma (1992–1995) he started at cornerback, was the main punt returner, ran sprints for the track team, and was first-team All-Big Eight in 1994. Denver drafted him in the fourth round, 122nd overall, in 1996. He played 61 regular-season games for the Broncos (1996–1999) as a reserve defensive back and special-teamer and won Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII. In the January 1999 playoff game against Miami he returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown. He played two games for Kansas City in 2003 before going on injured reserve. He died of heart failure in Fort Worth on February 25, 2021, at 47. The Oklahoman wrote on September 2, 1994: "Johnson, selected as one of this year's four team captains, isn't about to argue."