Johnson was Cincinnati's starting Center as a rookie, and that would be the only year that he was named to the Pro Bowl.  The former Volunteer remained Cincinnati's Center until 1977, where he would play in 136 Games, and started all of them. He would stay with the Bengals in a reserve capacity for two more seasons before retiring in 1979.

Much like he was the first player drafted, he made franchise history when his number was the first retired by the team.