Merv Johnson (American football)

Merv Johnson (born April 24, 1912, died May 28, 1993) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Minnesota, where he was a two-time All-American lineman in 1933 and 1934. He helped lead the Gophers to national championships in both of those seasons.

After his playing career, Johnson became a successful football coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Idaho from 1947 to 1949, compiling a record of 8–18–1. He then moved to the University of Oklahoma, where he served as an assistant coach under Bud Wilkinson from 1950 to 1963. During his time at Oklahoma, the Sooners won three national championships (1950, 1955, and 1956) and achieved a record-breaking 47-game winning streak.

Following his time at Oklahoma, Johnson became the head coach of the East Carolina Pirates, a position he held from 1965 to 1969. His record at East Carolina was 24–27. He then served as an assistant coach for several other teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, before retiring from coaching. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.