Tennessee Football: Remembering legendary Volunteer Johnny Majors

Legendary Tennessee football player and coach Johnny Majors dies at age 85 just days after the sport lost Auburn legend Pat Dye.

Johnny Majors is in a small fraternity of football coaches who had the opportunity to both play and coach for their alma mater. Current coaches Pat Fitzgerald, David Shaw, Mike Gundy and Scott Frost all coach for their alma maters.

Majors is in the pantheon of legendary coaches like Tom Osborne and Frank Beamer who coached their alma maters. Although Majors did not retire at his alma mater, he coached most of his career in Knoxville. He passed away at the age of 85 on Wednesday.

Before he began coaching in 1968, Majors was an All-American halfback/quarterback for the Volunteers. The Tennessee native was SEC player of the year in 1955 and 1956. His senior year– 1956 — Majors was also a consensus All-American finishing second in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

Majors’ second-place finish is still a sore spot for many Volunteer fans. While the Vols‘ finished 10-1 and second in the AP, the winner of the trophy — Paul Hornung — his team finished 2-8. He also had a better season statistically.

After a brief stint in the Canadian Football League, Majors began his coaching career in 1957 as a graduate assistant at Tennessee. After spending 10 seasons as an assistant coach, he was hired at Iowa State in 1968 compiling a 24-30 record leading the Cyclones to consecutive bowl games his last two seasons.

It was at the University of Pittsburgh where Majors would have his greatest successes. He recruited Pitt greats like Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett and Matt Cavanaugh. While at Pitt, he won his only — and Pitt’s only — national title in 1976 and was National Coach of the Year.

Despite his success at Pitt, the call home was too much to resist and Majors left the Panthers to coach his alma mater in 1977. While at Tennessee, the former All-American won the SEC three times — 1985, 1989 and 1990.

During his time at Rocky Top, Majors coached six All-Americans including legendary defensive lineman “The Minister of Defense” Reggie White.

Despite his 116-62-8 record while at Tennessee, Majors was forced out amid some controversy. He was replaced by longtime assistant Phillip Fulmer.

Majors was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.