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Longhorns legend inducted into Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
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- Longhorns legend inducted into Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
On Sunday night, former Longhorns star Derrick Johnson finally took his place alongside other Kansas City Chiefs legends. The franchise's all-time tackles leader was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. He became the 55th player to join the Chiefs Ring of Honor and was honored with a halftime ceremony at the Chiefs-Colts game.
During his career, Johnson spent 13 seasons in Kansas City and provided fans with plenty of unforgettable moments. During that stretch, the Texas native recorded 1,154 tackles and 27.5 sacks. He also had 14 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. Regardless of the opponent, Johnson found a way to fill the box score.
Although the former NFL star stepped away from the gridiron after the 2018 season, he remains the only player in franchise history to surpass 1,000 career tackles. His stellar career came after an impressive run at the University of Texas, where he was one of the best players the program has ever produced.
Jan 1, 2005; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Jermaine Gonzales (18) in action against Texas Longhorns cornerback Cedric Griffin (8) and linebacker Derrick Johnson (11) during the 2005 Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl. The Longhorns defeated the Wolverines 38-37. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Network
In four years as a Longhorn, Johnson tallied 458 total tackles and 10.5 sacks. He made life difficult for quarterbacks on a weekly basis with 39 QB pressures and 30 pass breakups. Because of his stellar play, Johnson was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. That season, he was also a finalist for various honors, such as the Bednarik Award, the Lombardi Award, and the Lott Trophy.
When his college career ended, Johnson was one of the nation's top prospects. He then met all expectations, and his name will forever be at Arrowhead Stadium, no matter how much time passes. That is something that every player dreams of once they make it to the NFL.
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After accepting the honor, Johnson thanked those who helped him along the way and the teammates he went to battle with every week.
"The guys (teammates) are why I got this award," Johnson told Kansas City Star Sportswriter Blair Kerkhoff. "When you can do something at a high level for a long time, that means you have a lot of guys around you."
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns legend inducted into Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
