On March 21, 2024, former Titans running back Chris Johnson was named as the 2024 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inductee after his illustrious and record-breaking NFL career with the Tennessee Titans. Johnson was informed of the news as part of the Official Titans Podcast by Tennessee Sports Hall of Famers Mike Keith and Keith Bullock.
“Chris Johnson took the sports world by storm with his explosive plays and blinding speed,” said Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. “His 2009 record-setting season will be long remembered by sports fans across the state of Tennessee.”
Johnson was drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of East Carolina University.
In ten NFL seasons, including 2008-2013 with the Titans, Johnson ran the ball 2,163 times gaining a total of 9,651 yards and scoring 55 touchdowns. In his NFL career, he averaged 4.5 yards a carry.
Johnson was breaking records before he even played a single down in the NFL. At the 2008 NFL combine, Johnson ran a 4.24 40-yard dash which set an NFL record for fastest 40-yard dash time. It was an NFL record for nine years before John Ross, out of the University of Washington, ran a 4.22 at the 2017 NFL Combine to break Johnson’s record.
When Johnson set that NFL record, it was a perfect glimpse into what he’d bring to the NFL which was his “getting away from the cops” speed according to announcer Gus Johnson.
Johnson’s 2009 record-setting Titans season
In the 2009 NFL season, Johnson ran for 2,006 yards with the Titans while setting a single-season NFL record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage.
He was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, along with first-team All Pro.
Within this season, he and former Titans quarterback Kerry Collins helped lead the Titans to an 8-8 overall regular season record but unfortunately missed the playoffs after finishing third in the AFC South.
There are only eight players to ever have run for 2,000 yards in a season, a group that includes former Titans running back Derrick Henry.
Chris Johnson’s 2009 season was legendary 🔥
pic.twitter.com/DBdJPDR4wu— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) March 14, 2024
Chris Johnson will go down as one of the fastest and most athletic running backs in NFL history.
2024 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inductees
Johnson joins Olympic Gold Medal figure skater Scott Hamilton, Millington business owner and philanthropist, the late W.S. “Babe” Howard, ETSU Golf Coaching legend Fred Warren, Nashville-area tennis pro Thay Butchee, the late Charlie Bayless, longtime basketball coach at Happy Valley High School, Tennessee tennis star Paul Annacone, TSU Track legend Jean Patton Latimer, Memphis champion racquetball player and coach Larry Liles, and Austin Peay basketball coaching legend Dave Loos as the only announced members of the 2024 Class. The full 2024 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class will be released over the coming weeks.
The 2024 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, presented by the Tennessee Titans, will be held Saturday, July 20th at the Omni Nashville Downtown.
