Back to the New York Giants Newsfeed

Ex-Giants hero details long, sad battle with crack cocaine

Bobby Johnson has a permanent place in Big Blue lore for his fourth-and-17 catch of a Phil Simms pass in Minnesota that helped the Giants win the NFC East in 1986, setting them up with home field for their run to the Super Bowl XXI title.

At the time of that catch, the third-year receiver was in the throes of an addiction to crack cocaine, which would soon end his career, according to the new book “Big Blue Wrecking Crew: Smashmouth Football, a Little Bit of Crazy, and the ’86 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants” by Jerry Barca (St.