Charley Johnson, a key figure in the storied history of New Mexico State University (NM State) football and an inductee into the Aggies’ Ring of Honor, died on September 3, aged 85.
Johnson, a native of Big Spring, Texas, was pivotal in driving NM State to its most triumphant era. During 1959 and 1960, he steered the Aggies to a remarkable 19 wins, including back-to-back victories in the Sun Bowl—an achievement that remains unsurpassed in the school’s history. Johnson’s remarkable feat of being named Most Valuable Player for two consecutive seasons in the Sun Bowl also remains unmatched.
In his debut season with the Aggies, Johnson led the country with 18 touchdown passes, a total that surpassed the efforts of all other quarterbacks by at least five touchdowns. Throughout his college career, he completed 214 passes for 2,960 yards and made 31 touchdowns, while maintaining a 53.8% completion rate. His superb performance led to his induction into the US Bank/NM State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1970, and his jersey number—33—is one of only two that NM State has retired.
Upon graduation, Johnson was drafted 109th by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960 NFL Draft and 64th by the San Diego Chargers in the 1961 AFL Draft. He chose the Cardinals and grew to become their primary starter from 1962 to 1966. In 1963, he was chosen for the NFL Pro Bowl after throwing for 3,280 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Johnson’s professional career spanned 15 years, with stints at the Cardinals (1961–1969), the Houston Oilers (1970–1971), and the Denver Broncos (1972–1975). With the Broncos, he led the team to its first winning season in 1973 and was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1986. He retired with 1,737 completions, 24,410 passing yards, and 170 touchdowns over 165 games.
Apart from football, Johnson was committed to academics and public service. He earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering. While still playing professionally, he served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked for NASA from 1967 to 1969.
After his playing days, Johnson returned to NM State to serve as the head of the chemical engineering department from 2000 to 2004. In 2010, he briefly held the position of interim head coach for the Aggie football team. Known for his generosity and dedication, he consistently supported Aggie Athletics and contributed significantly to various university programs, including the establishment of the Warren B. Woodson Endowed Fund for Athletics.
Johnson’s contributions were recognized with inductions into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, reinforcing his enduring legacy. His life and career epitomize excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.
Johnson and his late wife, Barbara, whom he met at NMSU, shared 62 years of marriage and were parents to two children and grandparents to several grandchildren.
