The San Francisco 49ers chose Goldson in the fourth round (126th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft. He appeared in ten games as a rookie, earning 15 tackles as a backup to then-starting safety Mark Roman. Goldson started all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2008, finishing with 102 tackles (third on the team), four interceptions (tied for second on the team), nine passes defensed, and a touchdown.
He started 13 games at strong safety in 2009 and led the team with 123 tackles. Goldson had two interceptions and nine passes defensed while helping the 49ers reach the Super Bowl after the season. He was named the game's MVP after making seven stops (including one for a loss) before leaving in the third quarter with a knee injury.
Goldson missed most of 2010 with a torn ACL suffered in April. He returned in 2011 and started all 16 games for the third straight year, recording 105 tackles (second on the team). He had three interceptions and nine passes defensed while helping the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game after the season.
In 2012, Goldson started all 16 games for the fourth consecutive year, leading the team with 110 tackles.
Jimmy Johnson, a 6-2, 187-pound two-way standout from UCLA, was the San Francisco 49ers' first-round draft pick in 1961. Jimmy Johnson, the brother of former world decathlon champion Rafer Johnson, was a UCLA wingback and defensive back. As a 49er, he played in 79 games over eight seasons, finishing with 133 tackles and seven interceptions. He returned three of those picks for touchdowns.
Johnson joined the team as part of the Bill Bergey coaching staff. By 1964, he had earned a starting job on defense, where he remained for three years. During that time, he started 78 of 80 games and led the club in interceptions each year. In 1967, his last season with the 49ers, he recorded 59 tackles and six interceptions.
In 1969, Johnson signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent but was released after one season. That same year, he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the NFL Draft. However, he chose not to join the team and instead signed with the Washington Redskins. With the Redskins, he won the Super Bowl in 1991 before being traded to the New York Jets in 1992. After one season with the Jets, Johnson finished his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills in 1993. He ended up playing in 228 games throughout his career, recording 2,437 tackles and 45 interceptions.
The New England Patriots picked Eason in the first round (15th overall) in the 1983 NFL Draft. He was one of six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, alongside John Elway (first selection), Todd Blackledge (seventh pick), Jim Kelly (fourteenth pick), Ken O'Brien (twentieth pick), and Dan Marino (27th pick).
Eason played eight seasons with the Patriots, finishing with 24 victories before retiring after the 1990 season. He returned to New England in 2008 as a consultant for football operations.
During his tenure with the team, Bill Belichick was the head coach, while Eason served as a senior adviser/quality control coach.
Eason has 11 career interceptions in New England. His 1,339 passing yards against them are the most by any quarterback against one team.
After graduating from Louisiana State University in 1983, Eason went straight into training camp with the Patriots. At the time, New England didn't have a backup plan if he wasn't ready for game day. However, Eason was able to win the starting job right away, since starter Bert Jones was injured during preseason play. In fact, Eason won nine games in his first year as a starter.
He finished with 24 victories over eight seasons with the Patriots, before retiring after the 1990 season. Eason returned to New England in 2008 as a consultant for football operations.
After two seasons in the USFL, he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL supplemental draft and played for them from 1985 to 1992. He has 21 sacks and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. His first season with the Eagles was cut short when he broke his ankle in a game against the New York Giants.
White started all 16 games for the Eagles in both 1986 and 1987, recording 51 tackles and 11 sacks. He returned as a free agent in 1988 and had another stellar season, finishing with 57 tackles and 12 sacks. The Eagles went on to win their first Super Bowl after defeating the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game. White did not participate in any playoff games due to injury.
He finished his career with the Buffalo Bills where he spent one season before retiring. In that year, he led the team in sacks with 9.5 while playing all 16 games.
White came back into the league in 1995 when the Pittsburgh Steelers picked him up in the expansion draft. He ended up playing three seasons for the Steelers, who released him during the 1997 season. He then signed with the San Diego Chargers, but was released at the end of the preseason.
He finished his NFL career with the Eagles again.
Copyright © 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc.
