MVP Profile: Chris Johnson, 2009

Running Back, Tennessee Titans

Age: 24 (Sept. 23)

2^nd season in pro football & with Titans

College: East Carolina

Height: 5’11” Weight: 200

Prelude:

Taken by the Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft (24^th overall), Johnson had an outstanding rookie season. He rushed for 1228 yards on 251 carries (4.9 avg.), caught 43 passes for 260 more yards, and scored a total of 10 touchdowns. His great speed made him especially effective in the open field, and he teamed well with power-running RB LenDale White. It all resulted in his being selected to the Pro Bowl.

2009 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 358 [1]

Most attempts, game - 36 (for 134 yds.) at Seattle 1/3

Yards – 2006 [1]

Most yards, game – 228 yards (on 24 carries) vs. Jacksonville 11/1

Average gain – 5.6 [3]

TDs – 14 [3, tied with Thomas Jones]

200-yard rushing games – 1

100-yard rushing games – 12

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 50      

Most receptions, game – 9 (for 87 yds.) vs. Houston 9/20, (for 100 yds.) vs. Buffalo 11/15

Yards – 503

Most yards, game - 100 (on 9 catches) vs. Buffalo 11/15

Average gain – 10.1

TDs – 2

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 0

Yards – 0

TDs – 0

Interceptions – 0

Total Yards – 2509 [3]

Scoring

TDs – 16 [2, tied with Maurice Jones-Drew, 1st in AFC]

2-point PAT – 1

Points – 98 [18]

Awards & Honors:

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: AP

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Focus, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Titans went 8-8 to finish third in the AFC South while ranking second in the NFL in rushing (2592 yards).

Aftermath:

While defenses keyed on Johnson, he followed up in 2010 by rushing for 1364 yards and 11 TDs and, with another 245 yards on 44 pass receptions, accumulating 1609 yards from scrimmage. He was a Pro Bowl selection for the third straight year. A lengthy preseason holdout in 2011 led to reduced performance, particularly over the first half of the schedule, although he still rushed for 1047 yards and caught a career-high 57 passes. He bounced back in 2012, running for 1243 yards while averaging 4.5 yards per attempt (his best since 2009) and despite injuries that decimated the offensive line over the course of the season. With 1077 rushing yards and 345 yards on 42 catches in 2013, Johnson’s totals over six seasons are 7965 yards on 1742 rushing attempts (4.6 avg.) and 272 pass receptions for 2003 yards. He has scored a total of 58 touchdowns.

--

MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

[Updated 12/2/14]