COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou football dedicated the Demetrious Johnson Tiger Lounge on Wednesday evening, thanks in part to a generous gift from Tim and Barb Wies.
The lounge, named after the late Demetrious Johnson, is located on the fourth floor of the Mizzou football building and offers an area for players and staff to gather and relax while in the facility. The lounge boasts couches, televisions, a ping pong table, and workspaces among other features.
Johnson grew up in the Darst-Webbe Public Housing Project south of downtown St. Louis and was the youngest of eight children raised by a single mother. He graduated from McKinley High School before attending the University of Missouri on a full scholarship.
“One of the first people Coach [Eliah] Drinkwitz told me I needed to meet when I got here was DJ,” Mizzou assistant coach Curtis Luper said. “I was recruiting St. Louis, and I hadn’t met him yet, so we took our entire staff and jumped in vehicles to drive over. I said, ‘Let me go see who this DJ guy is. I want to meet him.’ He had something for his foundation that day and I got to know that day exactly who DJ was. I told him after that day, my answer to him would always be ‘yes, sir.’
“DJ was instrumental in the success that we’ve had here at Mizzou. And if he were here today, he would tell us that he did, and he’d be telling the truth. Luther Burden III changed the trajectory of our program. When Coach Drink and I went to St Louis to go recruiting, DJ was there with us from the beginning all the way to 2022 and his untimely passing.”
During his four-year career (1979-82) in Columbia, Johnson helped the Tigers to 28 victories with three consecutive bowl appearances (1979 Hall of Fame, 1980 Liberty and 1981 Tangerine). He earned two-time All-Big Eight Conference honors in 1981 and 1982 and led the team in interceptions as a senior with four picks for 101 yards (25.25), including returning an interception 87 yards against Colorado State on Sept. 4, 1982. Under his leadership, MU finished ranked in the top 20 nationally twice (1979 & 1981) according to United Press International (UPI). Johnson participated in the Blue and Gray Classic and Japan Bowl in 1982 before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education.
“We’re here today to celebrate and recognize a truly remarkable person, Demetrious Johnson or simply just DJ,” his former teammate Jeff Smith said. “DJ was a husband, beloved father, activist, mentor, all-conference Big Eight football player, professional NFL player, community leader, friend, and most importantly, he was a child of God.
“When I think of DJ what comes to mind is cheerful giver. Cheerful giver with an unexplainable passion and competitive drive. DJ’s passion and competitive drive extended to athletics, business and life in general. DJ was dedicated. He worked extremely hard to be the best, and he wanted nothing but the best for us. DJ’s legacy lives on through his charitable foundation and through the countless lives he touched. More importantly, his legacy lives on through his beautiful family.”
After his collegiate career, Johnson was selected in the fifth round (115 overall pick) of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He went on to spend four seasons with the Lions (1983-86) and one year with the Miami Dolphins (1987). In 65 career games, 39 starts, Johnson compiled five interceptions and nine fumble recoveries. During the 1985 season, Johnson led the Lions in tackles with 186 and was second in the league in interceptions.
“To this day I when I sleep and I dream, I dream about Mizzou football games with my dad,” Johnson’s daughter Taylore said. “The reason why I came to Mizzou and graduated from here is because of Mizzou football and my dad and so it’s indescribable how much this resonates and how much this means to me and my family. My dad truly loved Mizzou. It gave my dad the opportunity to hone his skills, to develop discipline and understanding of the game of football, which prepared him to become the best he could be and enter into the NFL as a member of the Detroit Lions. Playing the game of football as a Goldbugs, then a Tiger and then a Lion, it taught my dad about the game of life, and understanding the game of life led him to his life’s purpose, which was giving back and helping others.”
Johnson’s other daughter Alexandria echoed Taylore’s sentiments.
“Mizzou was his life. Like when I say humble beginnings, it’s surely humble beginnings. Mizzou gave him the start of not just being an athlete, but learning how to be personable, learning how to communicate with people, learning how to treat people, learning how to be a community activist, be an activist for people. So, there’s so many aspects of him that got its foundation here at Mizzou, and we’re all so blessed with that, because it all came down to his kids now.
After football, Johnson turned to a life of service, establishing the Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation in 1993 to help serve underprivileged children and families in his hometown. Through his foundation, Johnson impacted countless lives in the St. Louis community. The organization was often most visible around the holidays when it hosted numerous food and toy drives and giveaways.
