 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Murairidzi mukuru weShumba Buddy Parker akaona kukosha kwaJohnson semudziviriri uye akamutamisira kumudziviriri wepasi. Mumwaka wake wokutanga neDetroit muna 1957, akatungamirira chikwata mukumhanyira, achitakura 621 yards uye zvishanu zvinokanganisa. Mumutambo weNFL Championship wa1957, iyo yakakundwa neLions 5914 pamusoro peCleveland Browns, Johnson akatakura kanomwe kwema 34 yards, akabata 16-yard pass, uye akadzorera fumble pakudzivirira. Kupinda mumwaka wa1958, Shumba dzakatarira kuti dzienderere mberi nekubudirira kwavo, uye Johnson aitarisirwa kuve mutakuri webhora wekutanga wechikwata. Zvisinei, Johnson akarasikirwa nemitambo yakati wandei nekuda kwekukuvara, uye Shumba dzakapedza ne 471 rekodhi uye imwe yeiyo ligi yakanyanya kukurumidza mhosva. 