Bio
Sixth-year pro continued in ‘06 to build a claim as top WR in Bengals history … Became first Bengal to win an NFL receiving yards title, as his 1369 yards edged Indianapolis’ Marvin Harrison (1366) for the crown … Named for third straight season to the Associated Press All-Pro team … Also named All-Pro by Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association … Earned his fourth straight Pro Bowl selection (all four as a starter) … Started every game for the second straight year and ranked second on team in catches (87), with 7 TDs … Positioned himself with excellent chance to become Bengals all-time leader in catches and receiving yards during ‘07 season … Has played in 86 straight Bengals games … Ranked third on the offense in total snaps in ‘06, playing 961 of the 1025 total.
NEVER BEFORE: Johnson completed a singular NFL achievement in ‘06 – winning a fourth consecutive conference receiving yards title. He won the AFC race by the same three-yard margin (1369-1366) that he had in the NFL yards race, as the No. 2 league yardage-maker was Marvin Harrison of Indianapolis. Since the establishment of the American and National conferences in ‘70, no one else has led a conference four years in a row, and only two other players have won as many as three in a row. Tim Brown of Oakland and Jerry Rice of San Francisco posted three-year streaks, both from ‘93-95, Brown in the AFC and Rice in the NFC. Prior to the ‘70 realignment, one player won four straight league titles. Hall of Famer Don Hutson of Green Bay won the NFL crown from ‘41-44.
BACK-TO-BACK BONANZA: Johnson set a Bengals single-game record for receiving yards (260) on Nov. 12 vs. San Diego, snapping an Eddie Brown mark of 216 that had stood since ‘88. And when Johnson added 190 yards the following week at New Orleans, he established an NFL record for receiving yards in consecutive games (450). He broke the two-game receiving yards mark of 448 set by San Francisco’s John Taylor in ‘89.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR? Though teammate Carson Palmer won the Oscar at the Pro Bowl, taking the MVP award, Johnson played a big part in Palmer’s success, and in the 31-28 AFC win. Johnson’s three catches for 70 yards included a 42-yard TD pass from Palmer, and when Johnson broke open deep late in the fourth quarter, he drew a 39-yard pass interference penalty against the NFC, moving the ball to the NFC 2 and setting up the winning FG.
PREPARE THE CROWNS: Johnson’s ‘06 receiving totals left him in one-season striking distance of the Bengals all-time lead in both receptions and receiving yards. He ranks second in receptions (466) and needs 65 more to pass all-time leader Carl Pickens (530). Johnson ranked fifth in receptions at the start of the ‘06 season, but his 87 catches moved him past Darnay Scott (386), Isaac Curtis (416) and Cris Collinsworth (417). Johnson also ranks second all-time in Bengals receiving yards (6925), and needs just 177 more yards to pass leader Isaac Curtis (7101). Johnson ranked sixth in yards as the ‘06 season began, but his NFL-leading 1369 yards moved him past Darnay Scott (5975), Eddie Brown (6134), Carl Pickens (6887) and Cris Collinsworth (6698).
CATCH OF THE YEAR: Johnson made the most dramatic catch of the Bengals season on Oct. 22 vs. Carolina. He set up the winning TD in the fourth quarter when he made good on a Bengals fourth-and-one gamble, beating tight coverage to catch 32-yard pass from Carson Palmer at the Panthers 3. Johnson led the team with 73 yards for the game (on six catches).
