Veteran coach Craig Johnson will mentor the Vikings QBs in 2011 and brings 20 seasons of experience working with veteran and rookie QBs and elevating their performances. Johnson enters his 12th season on an NFL sideline in 2011 and has coached QBs for 20 seasons, most recently on staff with the Tennessee Titans from 2000-10. During his tenure as QBs coach with the Titans 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.
Veteran coach Craig Johnson will mentor the Vikings QBs in 2011 and brings 20 seasons of experience working with veteran and rookie QBs and elevating their performances. Johnson enters his 12th season on an NFL sideline in 2011 and has coached QBs for 20 seasons, most recently on staff with the Tennessee Titans from 2000-10. During his tenure as QBs coach with the Titans 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.
