Gary Lynn "Big Hands" Johnson (August 31, 1952 – August 4, 2010) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was a four-time All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He played the majority of his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers, and he was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame. Johnson played college football for the Grambling State Tigers, and was a three-time first-team Little All-American selection. He was drafted by San Diego in the 1975 NFL Draft in the first round with the eighth overall pick. Johnson was named to the NFL All-Rookie team in his first season. The Chargers won three consecutive division titles from 1979 through 1981. Their defense led the league in sacks in 1980 behind Johnson's team-record sacks. In 1984, Johnson was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, and he won a Super Bowl with the team that season. Johnson retired after the 49ers season in 1985. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and was named to both the Chargers' 40th and 50th anniversary teams. Early life Johnson was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and grew up in Bossier City. When Johnson was in the eighth grade, he wanted to pick up a basketball in his physical education class when his coach said, "Get your big hands off my basketball." The nickname "Big Hands" was born. He played football at Charlotte Mitchell High School in Bossier City, and later played college football at Grambling State University for their Tigers football team. He was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team defensive tackle on the Little All-America team as a sophomore in 1972. A senior in 1974, he was named a first-team All-American by the Newspaper Enterprise Association and earned his third straight Little All-American selection. NFL career Johnson was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft with the eight overall pick, and he was named to the NFL All-Rookie team. In 1980, he teamed with fellow 1975 Chargers' draftees Fred Dean and Louie Kelcher as the Chargers led the NFL in sacks (60). That year Johnson led the NFL with sacks, which is still a Chargers' team record. He broke Steve DeLong's mark of 17 in 1969. Johnson and Dean were named