Former NFL linebacker Johnie Cooks passes away at age 64

Johnie Cooks (Twitter)

According to Aundrea Self of wcbi.com on Monday, former National Football League linebacker Johnie Cooks of Leland, Mississippi passed away at the age of 64 this past Thursday. The cause of death was a long illness according to Rick Cleveland of Mississippi Today. 

Cooks played 10 seasons in the National Football League from 1982 to 1991. He was with the Colts organization from 1982 to 1988. At the time, Cooks played with the Baltimore Colts in 1982 and 1983, before the franchise moved to Indianapolis, where he played the next five seasons. He was then with the New York Giants from 1988 to 1990, before finishing his career with the Cleveland Browns in 1991.

In 128 NFL regular season games, Cooks had five fumble recoveries for 52 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown for a fumble recovery came in a 29-23 Baltimore Colts win over the New England Patriots on September 4, 1983, in the Colts’s first game of their final season in Maryland. The touchdown was for 52 yards and came in overtime. Cooks also had 32 career sacks and four career interceptions for 25 yards.

Cooks was also a Super Bowl champion. He was part of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXV. The Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-19 at Tampa Stadium.

Cooks is one of four notable Baltimore Colts to pass away since 2020. Others include Jimmy Orr, Mike Curtis, and Tom Matte.

At the collegiate level, Cooks attended Mississippi State University. At the 1981 Hall of Fame Bowl, he was the game’s most valuable player. Following the honour, Cooks was the second overall pick in the 1982 National Football League Draft. He was only selected behind defensive end Kenneth Sims, who was drafted first overall by the Patriots.

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