Son Of Steelers Super Bowl Champion Detailed The Aftermath Of His Father's Heartbreaking Death And Is Encouraging Players To Seek Help

Former Pittsburgh Steelers legend, Ron Johnson Sr. died in 2018 at the young age of 62. While his official cause of death was not listed at the time, it has since been proven that it was a result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Now Johnson's son, Ron Johnson Jr. is speaking out about his father's illness and offering a warning to other athletes or those who experience multiple concussions.

Johnson, Sr. was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan University. He had an immediate impact recording four interceptions his rookie year during the regular season and another one in the AFC Championship Game against the Houston Oilers. 

The Steelers went to Super Bowl XIII that year and Johnson would again contribute, this time three tackles, in their win over the Dallas Cowboys. He became the first rookie cornerback to start in a Super Bowl-winning team. During his second season, he would once again help the black and gold secure a Super Bowl victory, this time against the Los Angeles Rams. 

Johnson was no run-of-the-mill cornerback. He often filled in other positions, including for Donnie Shell as a safety. In his final season with the Steelers, they included him in their "Steelers Legend Series." He spoke about what it meant to him to be a member of the Steelers, especially the bonds he formed with his teammates. 

"That is what we did in Pittsburgh. It's a fascinating thing to be a member of the Steelers. It's hard to put into words. I was thinking about all the guys I played with, and I love all these people. When you walked into the locker room, it exuded confidence."

Steelers' Ron Johnson Sr. Sadly Lost His Battle With CTE

Now his son, Johnson Jr., who also played in the NFL, hosts a podcast called Locked On Minnesota. On a recent episode, he had former Steelers safety Ryan Mundy on. 

Mundy, now retired from football, works to promote better access to mental health services, particularly for African Americans. Johnson Jr. said this is a topic that is important to him because of his father. 

"My dad was diagnosed with CTE once he passed away. We had his brain donated, the NFL and the Steelers came alongside to help me get that taken care of with Mel Blount and Tony Dungy there along the walk." 

Behind Johnson Jr., you can see his father's jersey hanging on the wall and a Steelers helmet on the bookcase. He tells listeners that the helmet was signed by the whole 1978 Steelers Super Bowl team. He then holds up his father's two Super Bowl rings, noting that he just happened to bring them, he doesn't always carry them around. 

"I happen to have my dad's two Super Bowl rings. When my dad passed away, this was one of the things that we found just in his house. Going through mental health, he didn't value that type of stuff anymore. He had Super Bowl rings, sitting in his kitchen drawer with packs of ketchup."

He says that he has a lot of his father's memorabilia, but comments that he was fortunate to even find it. The CTE definitely impacted his father's ability to prioritize and protect things of value. It also impacted his ability to have people in his life who wanted the best for him. At times, people might have gotten close to Johnson Sr. for what they perceived he could do for them. 

"We were going through the house cleaning up after we found him and they took his body. As we're sitting, me and my sister, going through it and we're doing it because his girlfriend was trying to steal stuff. So we had to go through the house trying to find memorabilia to make sure we got it out of the house before the police came to make sure there was no foul play.  

Johnson Jr. asks Mundy to explain his new app "Alkeme" to him. Mundy said he started it because he was dealing with his own mental health struggles, including anxiety, when he left the NFL, not feeling like he knew what would come next in his life in particular. The problem was bigger than just his, he said he also saw his family and community struggling with mental health and wanted to make an impact.  

"I got a big problem, my family had got a big problem, our community has a big problem, like why is nobody really attacking that and in the way I think it should be attacked? I started Alkeme with the mission to create generational health for the black community grounded in mindfulness and mental well-being."

Johnson Jr. said that he definitely sees the need in the black community, they just don't talk about mental health struggles. In his opinion, it is something that is just not talked about. He said this was a problem with his father. He was mostly "fine" and would say he was alright, which lead people to blow off the incidents that occurred from time to time.   

"With my dad for years, we ignored the signs of some of the comments he would make. Then as stuff started to happen, people started sending me stuff about my dad when he was with the Steelers. He had a concussion in one game and was in the hospital for three days in a coma. My mom said he looked like he had been in a car crash."  

CTE is measured in levels 1-4 with one 1 the mildest. Johnson Jr. said his father was a level 3 or level 4. At level 4, patients suffer language deficits, psychotic symptoms, and cognitive deficits.  

Mundy's platform is designed to help not just former NFL players find support, but anyone in the community who needs it. Both men feel it is critical for the black community to learn to open up and discuss mental health, instead of viewing it as taboo. 

What do you think about Johnson Jr's story? Do you think the NFL does enough surrounding mental health and players? Click to comment below. 

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