On this date… Flyers #25 Peter Zezel passed away on May 26th, 2009 at the age of 44. Zezel was not only a gifted hockey player, he was an outstanding soccer player as well. Zezel debuted with the Flyers as a 19 year old for the 1984-85 season that also featured rookies Derrick Smith and Rick Tocchet and a Stanley Cup Finals run. Zezel appeared in the 1986 movie Youngblood, and was 1st cousins with guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush.
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was born today May 26th, in 1941 in Maywood, Illinois. Johnson was the defensive coordinator for the Eagles from 1999-2008. During his time with the Birds, the team went to 5 NFC Championship games. During the 1999 season, his first with the Eagles, his defense forced a league-high 46 turnovers, and had 5 pick sixes (team record). From 2000-2007 the Johnson-led Eagles defense amassed 342 sacks, tied for 1st in NFL. In 2001, Johnson’s defense became just the 4th team in NFL history to hold opponents to 21 points or less in every game of a complete 16-game season.
Jim Johnson sent Eagles to the Pro Bowl 26 times: Brian Dawkins (7), Troy Vincent (5), Jeremiah Trotter (4), Hugh Douglas (3), Lito Sheppard (2), Trent Cole, Michael Lewis, Asante Samuel, Corey Simon, Bobby Taylor (1).
Johnson groomed 3 assistants during his Eagles tenure that went on to be NFL Head Coaches – John Harbaugh, Ron Rivera, and Sean McDermott.
Jim Johnson was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2011. Johnson passed away on July 28th, 2009.
