His battle is over Jim Johnson passes today

What a hard article this is to write.  Harry Kalas and now this.  This city does not deserve this its a very very hard pill to swallow.  At 68 years old Jim Johnson was one of the if not the best defensive coach in the NFL.  I could go on and on about what he has done for this team, and also about how this team is going to rally around him.  I could also go on and on with this post but instead I will take the moment of silence and pay my respects to his life and what he has done for me and Im sure many other players / coaches / fans in this city.  May God rest your soul my friend and may your family be blessed!  This is a very hard post for me to make and saddens me a lot but as a man of faith I be thankful that you are to a better place that hopefully someday I will join with you.  May you life on forever…I know you will in my memories.  I know I am not the best type’r, and I only hope I did justification here

You have been one of the best in my mind and at least your suffer is over….. You will be missed and this season will be HONORED FOR YOU!

Do me a favor you guys… please just pay your respects here and post nice comments….tell us your memories of him and how you will remember him!?

heres the bit from foxphilly.com

The Eagles’ longtime defensive coordinator, Jim Johnson, has died after his battle with cancer, the Philadelphia Eagles announced Tuesday afternoon.

The 68-year-old Johnson took an indefinite leave of absence in May to continue treatment for a cancerous tumor on his spine.

Johnson was hired by head coach Andy Reid to be defensive coordinator in January 1999 after 22 years as an NFL assistant coach, according to the Eagles Web site.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagles_files/html/coach_johnson_1.html

Teams around the league feared playing against his aggressive, blitzing defensive schemes.

According to the Eagles, Johnson’s defenses from 2000 to 2008 ranked second in the NFL in sacks, third-down efficiency, red-zone touchdown prevention and forced fumbles. They were fourth in fewest points allowed and opposing quarterback rating.

In his playing days, Johnson was a quarterback at Missouri Southern before being signed as a tight end by the Buffalo Bills and spending two seasons there.

He went on to coach at Missouri Southern, Drake, Indiana and Notre Dame, where he was part of the 1977 national championship team. He also coached for a few years in the USFL before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 1986. His NFL resume also includes stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.

On Saturday, two days before training camp officially opened, the Eagles officially named one of Johnson’s protégés, Sean McDermott, to replace him as defensive coordinator.

McDermott, 35, ran the defense in Johnson’s absence after serving as secondary coach last year. He originally joined the Eagles in 1998 as a scouting administrative coordinator, and has served in various roles as an assistant on the defensive staff.

Speaking of Johnson on Monday, McDermott said he missed “just his presence” at times such as coming out of the locker room and during morning meetings.

“I mean, he had a way about him that you just loved being around the guy,” McDermott said. “Our offices were next to each other for a number of years, so you miss that.”