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_(2).jpg) Johnston in 2022 | |||||||||||
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| Position | Fullback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1966-02-10)February 10, 1966 (age 60) Youngstown, New York, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Listed weight | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Lewiston-Porter (Youngstown) | ||||||||||
| College | Syracuse (1984–1988) | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1989: 2nd round, 39th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||
Operations | |||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Daryl Peter Johnston (born February 10, 1966) is an American sportscaster and former professionalfootballfullback and executive. Nicknamed "Moose", he played 11 seasons in theNational Football League (NFL), all for theDallas Cowboys.
Johnston playedcollege football for theSyracuse Orange. He was the general manager of theSan Antonio Commanders of theAlliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019, the director of player personnel for theDallas Renegades of the XFL in 2020, and served as the executive vice president of football operations for the revived incarnation of the USFL for itsinaugural season, its president for the USFL's second season, and returning to the executive vice president role when the USFL merged with the XFL to form theUnited Football League and remaining their for its first two seasons as a merged league.
Johnston was named Western New York Player of the Year in 1983 and simultaneously awarded the Connolly Cup,[1] while playing forLewiston-Porter High School (locally known as Lew-Port) inLewiston, New York. The Lancers won the division during his senior year in 1984. His Lew-Port jersey (number 34) was retired on September 1, 2006. In 2008, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.[2]
Johnston attendedSyracuse University.[3] As aredshirted freshman, he started playing onspecial teams and would earn the startingfullback position by his sophomore season in 1986.
While playing for Syracuse, Johnston was anAll-Big East selection in 1987 and anAll-American in 1988.[4] He rushed for 1,830 yards and caught 46 passes during his collegiate career. He once gained 138 yards rushing, the most by a Syracuserunning back sinceLarry Csonka rushed for 154 yards in 1967.
He graduated with a degree in economics.[3]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 1985 | Syracuse | 11 | 10 | 28 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 1986 | Syracuse | 11 | 102 | 469 | 4.6 | 0 | 17 | 114 | 6.7 | 0 |
| 1987 | Syracuse | 11 | 116 | 614 | 5.3 | 4 | 6 | 87 | 14.5 | 1 |
| 1988 | Syracuse | 11 | 128 | 645 | 5.0 | 5 | 20 | 250 | 12.5 | 0 |
| 44 | 356 | 1,756 | 4.9 | 9 | 43 | 451 | 10.5 | 1 | ||
| Height | Weight | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft1+3⁄4 in (1.87 m) | 232 lb (105 kg) | 4.17 s | 28.5 in (0.72 m) | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) | 17 reps |
Johnston wasselected by theDallas Cowboys in the second round (39th overall) of the1989 NFL draft.[5] As a rookie, he received his nickname "Moose" from backup quarterbackBabe Laufenberg because of his large stature compared to the rest of the running backs.[6] The name caught on among Dallas fans who would chant "Moooooose" whenever he made a play.
As a Cowboy, Johnston played in 149 consecutive games from1989-1997. He also became one of the greatestspecial teams players in franchise history.
He scored 22 careertouchdowns and had more receptions than carries. His 294 receptions is the third-highest number among Cowboysrunning backs, totaling 2,227 yards for a 7.6 yards average, compared to 232 carries for 753 yards for a 3.2 yards average. In1993, Johnston had 50 receptions and averaged 7.4 yards per catch.
Due mainly to Johnston's contributions, theNFL created thefullback position in thePro Bowl.[7] Prior to this change, blocking fullbacks had little chance of beating out traditionalrunning backs, who had better statistics. Johnston was selected to the Pro Bowl in1993 and1994.
Johnston retired at the end of the1999 season, after suffering a neck injury in 1997. He was a member of threeSuper Bowl winning teams.[8]
| Season | Team | GP | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1989 | DAL | 16 | 67 | 212 | 3.2 | 13 | 0 | 16 | 133 | 8.3 | 28 | 3 |
| 1990 | DAL | 16 | 10 | 35 | 3.5 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 148 | 10.6 | 26 | 1 |
| 1991 | DAL | 16 | 17 | 54 | 3.2 | 10 | 0 | 28 | 244 | 8.7 | 22 | 1 |
| 1992 | DAL | 16 | 17 | 61 | 3.6 | 14 | 0 | 32 | 249 | 7.8 | 18 | 2 |
| 1993 | DAL | 16 | 24 | 74 | 3.1 | 11 | 3 | 50 | 372 | 7.4 | 20 | 1 |
| 1994 | DAL | 16 | 40 | 138 | 3.5 | 9 | 2 | 44 | 325 | 7.4 | 24 | 2 |
| 1995 | DAL | 16 | 25 | 111 | 4.4 | 18 | 2 | 30 | 248 | 8.3 | 24 | 1 |
| 1996 | DAL | 16 | 22 | 48 | 2.2 | 7 | 0 | 43 | 278 | 6.5 | 23 | 1 |
| 1997 | DAL | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 166 | 9.2 | 21 | 1 |
| 1998 | DAL | 16 | 8 | 17 | 2.1 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 60 | 3.3 | 9 | 1 |
| 1999 | DAL | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career | 151 | 232 | 753 | 3.2 | 18 | 8 | 294 | 2,227 | 7.6 | 28 | 14 | |
Johnston was considered one of the greatest fullbacks of his day,[citation needed] while blocking forEmmitt Smith, as Smith went on to become the all-timeNFL rushing leader. However, Johnston was not the lead blocker for Smith's entire career. A neck injury prematurely ended Johnston's career. Johnston was present the day Smith broke the rushing record; he was in the broadcasting booth, but came down onto the field to hug Smith and congratulate him afterward. As Smith made his victory lap ofTexas Stadium after the record-setting carry, Johnston hung back in the shadows. When Smith saw Johnston, the two joined in an emotional embrace, with Smith telling Johnston, "I couldn't have done it without you." Johnston replied, "It was my pleasure. I couldn't imagine doing it for anybody else."[9]
In 2010, Johnston was in the audience for Smith's induction into thePro Football Hall of Fame. During his acceptance speech, a visibly emotional Smith spoke directly to Johnston, calling out the fact that, as a fullback, he had sacrificed himself for so many years to block for Smith. "Without you", Smith said, "I know that today would not have been possible."[10]
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In 2003, Johnston joined the program Players Inc Radio when it moved toFox Sports Radio. The program was sponsored byNFL Players Inc.[11]
Since 2001, Johnston has worked as acolor commentator for NFL games onFox Sports.[4]
Beginning in 2013, he worked alongsideKenny Albert and formerlyDick Stockton. Previously, Johnston was on the second broadcast team with Stockton from 2001 to 2006 and Albert from 2007 to 2013. He also worked withTony "Goose" Siragusa, until Siragusa's firing from Fox following the 2015 season. In 2017, he continued his esteemed broadcasting career with theNFL on Fox, teamed withChris Myers andLaura Okmin. In 2020, he became paired withKevin Burkhardt andPam Oliver.[12] He was paired withJoe Davis andPam Oliver as the number 2 crew with Fox, but, for 2024, withTom Brady’s arrival at Fox, he was demoted to the #5 team alongsideKevin Kugler.
In 2000, Johnston got his start calling NFL games by working the regular season and doing the High Definition broadcast ofSuper Bowl XXXV withKevin Harlan forCBS Sports. He was an analyst for theNFL Network's "Total Access" until 2012.
Johnston also called the collegiateCotton Bowl Classic game for Fox, first withPat Summerall, and then eventuallyKenny Albert.
He also was a guest star of thePBS television seriesWishbone in its episode "Moonbone". He appears as a regular guest on First Things First on FS1 (2017/2018) withCris Carter, Nick Wright, andJenna Wolfe.
In 2018, Johnston became the General Manager of theSan Antonio Commanders of theAlliance of American Football.[13]
On May 15, 2019, he was named Director of Player Personnel for theDallas Renegades of the newXFL.[14]
On November 17, 2021, he was named Executive Vice President of Football Operations.[15]
On April 6, 2023, he was named the President of Football Operations for the second season of the newest incarnation of theUSFL, succeeding league co-founder Brian Woods.[16] With the USFL and XFL's merger to form theUnited Football League in 2024, Johnston returned to the title of Executive Vice President of Football Operations, serving alongside XFL/UFL president (and fellow Western New Yorker)Russ Brandon.[17] Johnston's position was eliminated uponMike Repole's purchase of a minority stake in the UFL.[18]
A native ofYoungstown, New York, Johnston now resides inDallas, Texas with his wife Diane, son Aidan, and daughter Evan.
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