Pike Johnson

Pike Johnson

Date of birth	(1896-09-30)September 30, 1896
Place of birth	Javia, Sweden
Date of death
Place of death	Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Career information
Position(s)	Tackle, Guard
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg)
College	Washington & Lee
Career history
As player
1917, 1919	Massillon Tigers
1920	Akron Pros
Career stats
Playing stats at NFL.com
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Army
Years of service	1918-1919
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Purple Heart

Karl Hilmer "Pike" Johnson (September 30, 1896 – November 8, 1985) was a professional football player in the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League in 1922) for the Akron Pros. In 1920 he and the Pros were awarded the very first NFL Championship. Prior to his career in the APFA, Johnson played with the Massillon Tigers of the Ohio League. He received all-pro honors in 1917. He was also World War I Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient.

In 2010 Johnson's grandson donated the miniature football shaped medallion (called a fob), to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The fob was given to his grandfather after winning the 1920 championship. During the visit, it was discovered that Pike Johnson was incorrectly identified as Frank Leonard Johnson who appears that the league's all-time roster, which also appears on NFL.com. However, it was the wrong "Pike" Johnson, one who never played with the Akron Pros. Also the jeweler who inscribed his name on the fob made a mistake when the first initial of "C" rather than "K" was etched onto the back of the gold piece.