Heritage assistant athletic director Charles Johnson, former NFL player, dies at 50

As Heritage High School mourns the passing of assistant athletic director Charles Johnson, police are investigating the cause of the former NFL player’s death.

News of Johnson’s death was posted on Twitter, on the official Heritage account. It said: “RIP Coach You will be missed by so many, especially your Husky Family. #RIPJC#HuskyFamily.”

Johnson, 50, was a former college star as a wide receiver at Colorado who played nine seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. The 17th overall pick of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Steelers, he had 354 receptions for 4,606 yards and scored 24 touchdowns in 133 career games.

In 2001, as a member of the Patriots, he earned a Super Bowl ring. He played his last season with the Bills in 2002.

Johnson joined other former NFL players at Heritage High including two former Steelers – Dwayne Washington, the former Heritage head coach, and Willie Parker. Former N.C. State and NFL star Torry Holt also assisted the football program.

Johnson was a native of San Bernardino, California, and played at Colorado with quarterback Kordell Stewart, later a Steelers teammate.

The Raleigh police confirmed Wednesday they were called to a Raleigh hotel on Sunday, and an investigation continues into Johnson’s death.