As the UFL debuts its merger during Easter weekend, some franchises in the XFL-USFL marriage have been rebranded. The Houston Roughnecks are one of them, having been known as the Gamblers during their run in the USFL.
However, one thing remains the same for the Houston franchise: C.J. Johnson is the head coach. Here’s the background on the veteran football mind.
C.J. Johnson Is a Super Bowl Winner
Johnson has a Super Bowl ring in tow ahead of his UFL debut Sunday vs. the Memphis Showboats.
He was the wide receivers coach during the 2009 season for the New Orleans Saints when they won their first Vince Lombardi Trophy. He coached under former Saints head coach Sean Payton from 2006 to 2011.
He later had a second stint with the franchise from 2017 to 2021, serving in roles from senior offensive assistant to WRs coach. Outside of the Saints, his other NFL stop was with the Chicago Bears, where he spent 2016 as their WRs coach.
Johnson, though, has a previous head coaching stint at the collegiate level. He led the Tulane Green Wave from 2012 to 2015, going a disappointing 15-34 overall with one bowl season in 2013, when the program went 7-6 overall.
Since leaving the New Orleans-based private university, Johnson has rebuilt himself in the professional ranks.
Johnson Once Recruited and Coached Future Hall of Famers
When looking closely at Johnson’s collegiate coaching résumé, he has more than multiple stops. He’s coached or recruited future Pro Bowlers and Hall of Famers.
San Diego State was where he reeled in a Louisiana native named Marshall Faulk — the same Faulk who put up Hall of Fame numbers with the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams as a running back/receiving threat.
But Johnson didn’t stop with discovering Faulk on the recruiting trail. He’s credited for pilfering another Bayou State star named Ed Reed when Johnson coached at Miami. Reed went on to become an All-American, national champion, and future NFL Hall of Famer at safety.
Other notable future NFL stars he coached with the Hurricanes? Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, and Reggie Wayne — all of whom had Johnson as WR coach in college.
How Johnson’s 2023 Houston Team Fared
Johnson officially took the head coaching reins of the Gamblers on Feb. 15, 2023.
His first Houston team went 5-5 overall. They had to overcome an 0-2 start with losses to the Michigan Panthers (29-13) and New Orleans Breakers (38-31).
But Johnson helped orchestrate a four-game winning streak after the slow beginning. Houston rolled to victories over the Memphis Showboats (30-26), Philadelphia Stars (41-16), Birmingham Stallions (27-20), and the New Jersey Generals (16-10).
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The Gamblers, however, went on to lose their next three of four games to close out the USFL season. The only franchise they beat during this span was the Pittsburgh Maulers by a score of 20-19.
Now, Johnson will aim to get the Roughnecks above .500 in his second campaign at the helm.
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