Charley Johnson, a revered figure in the football history of New Mexico State University (NM State) and a member of the Aggies’ Ring of Honor, died on Tuesday, September 3 at 85 years old.

Johnson, a Big Spring, Texas native, played a crucial role during NM State’s golden era. He led the Aggies to 19 victories between 1959 and 1960, including back-to-back wins in the Sun Bowl, a record that still stands today. He is also the only player in Sun Bowl history to be honored as the Most Valuable Player in consecutive seasons.

In his initial season at NM State, Johnson led the nation with 18 touchdown passes, surpassing all other quarterbacks by at least five. Over his college career, he completed 214 passes for 2,960 yards and 31 touchdowns, with a 53.8% completion rate. His outstanding performance led to his induction into the US Bank/NM State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1970. His jersey number, 33, is one of only two retired by NM State.

Johnson’s professional career started when he was picked by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 109th pick in the 1960 NFL Draft and by the San Diego Chargers with the 64th pick in the 1961 AFL Draft. He chose the Cardinals and was their main quarterback from 1962 to 1966. In 1963, he was selected for the NFL Pro Bowl after throwing for 3,280 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Over his 15-year professional football career, Johnson played for the Cardinals (1961–1969), the Houston Oilers (1970–1971), and the Denver Broncos (1972–1975). During his tenure with the Broncos, he guided the team to its first winning season in 1973 and was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1986. Johnson retired with career stats of 1,737 completions, 24,410 passing yards, and 170 touchdowns over 165 games.

Johnson was just as dedicated to academics and service as he was to football. He held bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering. While still a professional player, Johnson served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked for NASA during active duty from 1967 to 1969.

After his playing days, Johnson returned to NM State to serve as the head of the chemical engineering department from 2000 to 2004. He also briefly served as interim head coach for the Aggie football team in the spring of 2010. Known for his generosity and commitment, he was a long-time supporter of Aggie Athletics and made significant contributions to various university programs, including the creation of the Warren B. Woodson Endowed Fund for Athletics.

Johnson’s legacy was further enshrined with his induction into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. His life and career are a testament to his excellence in sports, education, and community service.

Johnson and his late wife, Barbara, whom he met at NM State, were married for 62 years and were blessed with two children and multiple grandchildren.