Charles Johnson, star wide receiver Colorado and the first-round choice of the Pittsburgh SteelersAt 50 years old, he died.
According to Colorado, Johnson died from natural causes. As of Wednesday afternoon however, it was still not clear what the cause was. At the time of Johnson’s death, he was working as an assistant athletic director at Heritage High School (Wake Forest, South Carolina).
Johnson was the Steelers’ 17th overall selection in 1994. He played five years for Pittsburgh, receiving 247 receptions and catching 15 touchdown passes. He had 60 catches and 1,008 yards of career-high receiving for the Steelers in 1996.
Johnson also spent two seasons in the Navy. EaglesOne season with the Patriots One with the Bills. He was part of New England’s Super Bowl winning team in 2001.
Johnson played four seasons for Colorado and was a standout in his last two years. As a junior, he had 1,149 receiving yardage and five TD catches. In 1993, he finished with 1,082 receiving yards as a senior and nine TD catches.