Updated: April 7, 2025
A member of the UNA Athletic Hall of Fame and a former All-American linebacker for the Lions, Michael Johnson joined the coaching staff at his alma mater in March 2025.
Johnson was an All-American linebacker in 2008 and 2009 and won National Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 from Daktronics and D2Football.com. After terrorizing running backs on the gridiron for many years, Johnson will now coach the position on Dearmon's staff.Â
"Michael Johnson is the definition of UNA greatness," said UNA Head Coach Brent Dearmon. "Bringing a hall of famer back home is an awesome feeling. Mike's love for UNA and level of toughness will make us even better in all phases of our program."
A Panama City, Fla., native, Johnson was a four-year starting linebacker at North Alabama from 2006-09 and was a four-time All-Gulf South Conference, four-time All-Super Region 2 and two-time All-American for the Lions.
Chosen first-team All-American by Daktronics and second-team by D2football.com as a junior in 2008, Johnson followed with first-team All-American selections by Daktronics, D2Football.com, Football Gazette and the Associated Press as a senior in 2009. He was also voted National Defensive Player of the Year by Daktronics and D2Football.com, in addition to being named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Johnson was part of a UNA senior class that had a combined 44-7 overall record to rank as third winningest senior class in school history. The Class of 2009 was ranked nationally in the Top 11 for 54 straight weeks — every week that they were part of the UNA program. The Lions had four straight seasons with 10 or more wins and made four straight NCAA playoff appearances.
Johnson finished his career with 365 total tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
He signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2010 and later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Before coming back to UNA, Johnson worked as a Sports Performance Coach and Personal Trainer, as well as a Wind Turbine Technician at GE. He recently coached on Mark Hudspeth’s staff at Gulf Shores High School.
