NFL: Ranking Quarterbacks who were one-hit wonders
By Nick Villano
NFL: Ranking Quarterbacks who were one-hit wonders: 2. Rob Johnson
Back to the Jaguars, Rob Johnson was one of the surprise backup quarterbacks who turned a huge performance into a starter’s role, and the team on the other side of that completely regretted it. Johnson was drafted by the Jaguars in their inaugural season in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He was behind Steve Beuerlein and Mark Brunell for his first few years in the league, but he finally got his chance in Week 1 of his third season.
Johnson was the starter for the season because Brunell was still recovering from a preseason injury. He looked awesome, leading two drives that started behind the 20-yard line. He led the Jaguars to a crucial victory over the Baltimore Ravens, and Brunell came back with the Jags in the win column. That was all the Bills needed to see to know they had their quarterback of the future.
The Bills traded a first and fourth-round pick in the draft for Johnson. The Bills signed him to a five-year deal immediately, paying Johnson $5 million per season. Wade Phillips named this as a new era in Buffalo, and the excitement was palpable. Johnson got a concussion in his first game as the Bills starter, and it was all downhill from there.
In Johnson’s absence, Doug Flutie was able to take over the starting job and lead the Bills to the playoffs. The next season, Flutie won the starting job in training camp, but the Bills made a mess of things after Flutie led the team to another playoff game. Johnson was able to come in for Week 17 with nothing on the line, and he looked so good the owner called Phillips in to “discuss” the quarterback position. Phillips ended up starting Johnson in the playoffs, and the Bills got crushed. Johnson looked terrible, and the Bills ended the season with egg on their face. Flutie eventually left to play with the Chargers, and Johnson was given one last chance to win the starting job. He didn’t play well, the Bills let him move on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Johnson ended up being known for that one great game with the Jaguars that made him $25 million.