Coaches

Veteran coach Craig Johnson returns for his 14th season coaching in the NFL in 2013 and his 3rd with the Vikings as he continues to help Christian Ponder develop as the Vikings starter under center.

Ponder played the best of his career down the stretch in 2012 for the Vikings as the club went on a 4-game win streak to end the season and earn a Wild Card playoff berth with a 10-6 mark, far exceeding outside expectations for the team entering the season.

Ponder posted his career-best game when it mattered most, hosting border rival Green Bay in the regular season finale in a must-win scenario to make the playoffs. Ponder’s 3-TD day and 120.2 passer rating were career-highs. Ponder did not throw an INT in the final 3 games and had 8 games during the season without throwing a pick. He notched a completion percentage of 70.0%+ in 5 games and had 4 games with a passer rating of 100+.  Ponder became the 7th Vikings QB to win 10 games as the starter.

In Johnson’s first season as quarterbacks coach in 2011, he worked with rookie Christian Ponder as he threw for 1,853 yards and 13 TDs in 11 games. Ponder also finished the season with 8 TDs and only 1 interception in the red zone, giving him a league leading 114.3 passer rating. Second-year quarterback Joe Webb also saw time under center. When Ponder went down in Week 14 at Detroit, Webb threw for 2 touchdowns as the Vikings almost overcame a 21-point deficit but fell short in the closing moments.

During his tenure as QBs coach with the Titans from 2000-10, he was able to guide Steve McNair, Vince Young and Kerry Collins all to Pro Bowl seasons.

Johnson was able to work with McNair as he earned NFL Co-MVP in 2003 and Young as he claimed 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. In 2008, Collins was pressed into action after an injury in the season opener and responded with one of his career-best seasons, leading the team to a 12-3 mark as the starter and returning to the Pro Bowl. McNair earned Pro Bowl honors in 2000, ’03 and ’05 and was recognized as Co-MVP of the League, the 1st QB in franchise history to earn the award and the 2nd player in club history. Keeping backup QBs well-prepared was hallmark to the Titans success and Johnson was able to insert Billy Volek into the starting lineup in 2004 for 7 games where he posted an 18-10 TD-INT ratio and completed 61.1% of his passes with an 87.1 passer rating.

During his tenure with Tennessee the team won 3 AFC South titles and made the playoffs 5 times overall with 3 different starting QBs leading the team to the playoffs over those 5 seasons. In 2010 Johnson was promoted to Assistant Head Coach/RBs after a late-preseason staff shuffle. Perennial Pro Bowler Chris Johnson ran for 1,364 yards and led the team with 44 catches while backup 2nd-year man Javon Ringer averaged 4.7 yards per carry in a limited role.

Before he joined the Titans staff, Johnson honed his skills as a collegiate QBs and RBs coach from 1983-99, working at Maryland (1997-99), Northwestern (1992-96), Virginia Military Institute (1989-91), Rutgers (1986-88) and Army (1985). Johnson was a graduate assistant in 1983 (Wyoming) and 1984 (Arkansas). Johnson coached the Maryland QBs and for the 1997 and ’98 seasons he served as offensive coordinator. During his 5 seasons at Northwestern he helped the Wildcats win consecutive Big Ten titles in 1995-96 for the first time in team history. The 1995 Wildcats posted the 1st winning season since 1971 and earned a trip to the Rose Bowl for the 1st time since 1949. Johnson’s pupil, QB Steve Schnur was a 1st-Team All-Big Ten honoree and in 1992 and ’93 QB Len Williams was a 2nd-Team choice.

Johnson came to Northwestern from VMI where he was Offensive Coordinator/QBs coach and helped the school lead the nation in rushing in 1991. Johnson coached RBs at Rutgers for 3 seasons after a 1-year stint at Army as a part-time assistant working with the FBs. Johnson broke into coaching as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Wyoming, in 1983. Johnson and wife, Darlene, have daughters Shelby and Sydney.