Vaughan Johnson

Sport: Football

Induction Year: 2011

Induction Year: 2011

Vaughan Johnson was a four-time Pro Bowl pick as perhaps the hardest-hitting member of the Saints’ famed “Dome Patrol” linebacking corps in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A sturdy 6-foot-3, 235-pounder, Johnson was part of the star linebacking corps that also included Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame members Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling.

Johnson was chosen by the Saints in the USFL Supplemental Draft and joined the team in 1986. He played eight seasons with the Saints, making the Pro Bowl four times from 1989-92. In 1991, he, Mills and Swilling became the first set of three linebackers from the same team to start the all-star contest; one year later they were joined by Jackson to be the first club with four linebackers in the Pro Bowl game. Johnson was a second-team All-Pro pick by The Associated Press in 1989. He became a starter in 1987 — the first year the Saints made the playoffs — and collected more than 100 tackles three times (including a career-high 114 in 1988) while starting 98 of the 120 games he played with the team. He also had 12 sacks, four interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in his NFL career.

In 1991 and ’92, the Saints had arguably the best defense in the NFL as they led the league in fewest points allowed (211 in 1991 and a club-record 202 in ’92). They also ranked second in fewest yards allowed in both those seasons.