Now a coach, Leon Johnson and parents reflect on football career

Posted Feb 24, 2012
From his time as a Freedom High four-sport standout, to being drafted as a teenager by the San Francisco Giants, to playing a key part in some of UNC’s glory years on the gridiron and lining up for coach Bill Parcells with the New York Jets as part of an eight-year NFL career, Leon Johnson made a lasting impression on everyone in Burke County who calls themselves a sports fan. (Morganton News Herald)

Related: Football, Tar Heels in the NFL

Newsletter: Henri Veesaar to NBA Draft, 3 UNC Basketball Commitments, New Transfer Portal Targets
Henri Veesaar declared for the NBA Draft as UNC Basketball landed three transfer portal commitments. Carolina Football hosted recruits and signed four players to NFL...
Mon Apr 27, 2026

UNC alumni, HBCU coaches join Chicago State football start-up
Chicago State football will have a lot of HBCU and UNC flavor on its inaugural football coaching staff. Head coach Bobby Rome, a former UNC...
Sun Apr 26, 2026

Four Tar Heels Signed As Undrafted NFL Free Agents
For the first time since 2016, no UNC football players were drafted following the program's debut season under Bill Belichick. But four Tar Heels found...
Sun Apr 26, 2026

Bill Belichick’s UNC program had no players drafted
Last year, UNC Football G.M. Mike Lombardi proclaimed the Tar Heels as the NFL’s 33rd franchise. The other 32 teams had no interest in any...
Sun Apr 26, 2026