jim johnson died

Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson died Tuesday afternoon at age 68, the Eagles announced.

Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the team in May as he continued to battle a cancerous tumor on his spine.

A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson is regarded as one of the top defensive minds in the league, known for complex schemes that confused opponents and pressured the quarterback from every angle. His defenses consistently ranked among the best in the league, including last season, when the Eagles finished third in total defense and fell one victory short of the Super Bowl.

But his health deteriorated in recent months and he was relegated to coaching from a motorized cart. The Eagles announced in the offseason that he was taking a leave of absence and named secondary coach Sean McDermott their interim defensive coordinator. The interim tag was removed from McDermott's title just before training camp opened.

According to the Eagles, Johnson is survived by his wife Vicky, two children and four grandchildren.

The NFL, the Eagles and us fans are going to miss you, Jim.

More Hot Stories:
ricky berens swimsuit
bachelorette finale :jillian and ed still together
the bachelorette:jillian and ed
joe jonas and camilla belle break up??
Kim Kardashian And Reggie Bush Split
alberto contador comments