Der 1.90m große und 95kg schwere Johnson war zuletzt bei den Catania Elephants in der IFL (Italian Football League) im Einsatz. Er kommt vom College der Arizona Wildcats (NCAA Div I/PAC 10) und befand sich 2003 als Backup von Drew Bledsoe am Roster der Buffalo Bills (NFL). Zum Einsatz kam er dort allerdings nie. 2004 wechselte er in die CFL (Canadian Football League) zu den Edmonton Eskimos, deren Jersey er drei Jahre lang trug. 2008 kam er schließlich nach Europa. Seine Eindrücke über Italien hielt er in einem Blog Really Playing For Pizza fest.
Der 29-Jährige ist mit seiner Frau Christie verheiratet und kommt aus einem Football-Familienbetrieb. Bereits Großvater Frosty ist Mitglied der NCAA Hall Of Fame, Onkel Scott Head Coach bei PLU und Bruder Chad ebenfalls Quarterback mit Europa Erfahrung (Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns/GFL).
Vertrag seit Spätherbst
Bemerkenswert ist sicher die Tatsache, dass der Vertrag mit Johnson laut Raiders bereits im November des Vorjahres fixiert wurde. Johnson wurde nach der Saison vom Raiders Coach Santos Carillos kontaktiert – danach war man sich ganz schnell einig.
Glavic, der die Tiroler zum Euro Bowl Triumph führte und zur Nummer 1 in Europa machte, wechselte von den Raiders enttäuscht zum Schweizer EFAF-Cup-Teilnehmer Calanda Broncos.
2008 Catania Elephants Highlights
Jason Johnson QB Arizona
Jason Johnson Profile
European Experience:
2008 Italian Football League – CATANIA ELEPHANTS
Quarterback & Offensive Coordinator for First Division Catania Elephants. Led team to National Semi-Finals while cordinating the highest scoring offense in Italy. Team Averaged 50.3 Points Per Game and 467 yards per game (305 passing / 158 rushing), with the #1, #2, and #8 receivers in league & #2 running back. Personally led the league in TD Passes, Yards, and QB Efficiency Rating.
STATS (10 Games): 191 comp – 305 attempts. 3,052 yards. 45 TD / 9 INT. 305.2 yards per game. 184.3 rating.
Other Professional Experience:
2004-2006 Canadian Football League, EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Played 3 years for Canada’s winningest franchise. Member of the 2005 GREY CUP CHAMPIONS.
2003 National Football League, BUFFALO BILLS
Signed as Free-Agent in Spring 2003 and spent 6 months with the Bills as a backup QB behind Drew Bledsoe. Released during the 2003 Season.
Collegiate Experience:
1998-2002 NCAA Division 1, ARIZONA WILDCATS, Pac-10 Conference.
Named the 2002 Woody Hayes Award Winner as the Top Male Scholar-Athlete in Division I Sports. Two-time All-Pac 10 Academic Selection. Left the University of Arizona with many individual records, including the top two passing seasons in school history and top individual game performance (492 yards & 4 TD vs. Cal in 2002.) Passed for 5,674 yards and 35 Touchdowns in career.
2001 Stats: 169-298. 56.7% 2327 yards, 16 TD.
2002 Stats: 239-410. 58.3% 3327 yards, 19 TD.
Personal:
Born in Tacoma, Washington, USA. Married to wife Christie. Comes from a football background: Grandfather Frosty Westering member of NCAA Hall of Fame as coach of Pacific Lutheran University (NCAA Div. III) who won 305 games and 4 National Championships. Uncle Scott Westering current PLU Head Coach. Brother Chad Johnson also QB, named Gagliardi Trophy Winner as Top Div. III Player in 2000, later played one season for Schwabish Hall Unicorns in GFL.
