Stone Johnson

For the American civil rights activist, see Colonel Stone Johnson.

Stone Edward Johnson (April 26, 1940 — September 8, 1963) was an American sprinter and professional football player. He played as a kick returner and running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) during the 1963 preseason.

Stone Johnson

No. 33
Position	Running back
Personal information
Born	April 26, 1940 Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died	September 8, 1963(1963-09-08) (aged 23) Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Career information
College	Grambling State
AFL draft	1963: 14th round, 105th overall pick
Career history
Kansas City Chiefs (1963)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Kansas City Chiefs No. 33 retired

On August 30, 1963, the rookie Johnson, a 200-meter track finalist in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and former world record holder, suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck in a preseason game against the Houston Oilers in Wichita, Kansas during a kickoff return. He died 10 days later, on September 8, at the age of 23.^[1] Although he was only on the team's active roster during preseason, his jersey number 33 was retired.^[2][3]

See also

• List of American Football League players