Green Bay Packers defensive end Ezra Johnson was one of the best pass rushers on the team from the late 1970s through the 80s . He was a first-round draft pick in 1977 and recorded 20.5 sacks in 1978. But on August 30, 1980, Johnson and the Packers suffered an embarrassing and difficult day that went beyond the team’s 38-0 defeat to the Denver Broncos. It was late in that game that Johnson was caught eating a hot dog on the sidelines during the game. The fallout from the incident caused turmoil on the Packers team and cost an assistant coach his job.

Packers DE Ezra Johnson Gets In Hot Water for Eating a Hot Dog on the Bench During a Game: The Incident

The 1980 preseason was a rough time for the Packers and head coach Bart Starr. The team finished a disappointing 5-11 in 1979 after an 8-7-1 season the previous year. The Packers went 0-4-1 during the preseason. They were outscored 82-17 in those five games. Their only tie came in the Hall of Fame Game which ended in a 0-0 tie with the San Diego Chargers. The game was called in the fourth quarter due to severe thunderstorms.

The Packers held the fourth overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft and selected Penn State defensive lineman Bruce Clark. But Clark refused to sign with the Packers and decided to play in Canada. The morale around the franchise was not good.

The preseason finale was a low point. The Broncos crushed the Packers 38-0 at Lambeau Field. The Packers played terrible football. They gained 17 rushing yards on 10 carries and went 0-for-9 on third downs. They committed eight penalties and four turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, there was Johnson, the team’s 6’4”, 250-pound defensive lineman, sitting on the sidelines eating a hot dog.

“I was just hungry, that’s the truth,” Johnson said later. “It was the last preseason game, and I only played two series. The reporters made a big deal out of it.”

Those few fans who stayed till the end voiced their displeasure to the team. By the fourth quarter, the fans were booing the Packers and cheering the visiting team.

One fan actually spit on Starr and pour beer on him as he and the team headed off the field. After the game, Starr said he never heard fans in Green Bay cheer like that for the other team.

One Broncos player called the Packers, “the worst excuse for a pro team that I’ve seen.”

The Reaction to the Incident

The end of the game was not the end of the hot dog incident for the Packers and Ezra Johnson. Defensive line coach Fred vonAppen was incensed at Johnson’s behavior and demanded that Starr suspend his best pass rusher.

Starr did tell the media, “I assure you you’ll never see or hear that again,” when asked about what happened.

There was also talk of trading Johnson Bart initially agreed but was later talked out of making that move. He also didn’t suspend the former first round pick. Instead, he fined Johnson $1,000 and made him issue an apology to his teammates.

That wasn’t enough for vonAppen. He felt it didn’t go far enough and wanted Johnson suspended. “I was deeply disappointed and upset about the symbolism of something like that,” vonAppen said. Then he handed in his resignation. It appeared to most people that his problem was more with Starr than Johnson. “I’m sure some people feel this is extreme, but they don’t know all that was involved,” vonAppen added.

To the assistant coach, it was a matter of principle. “That’s my personality make-up.” vonAppen said later. “I believe strongly in the principles of team play, and I am not able to compromise the principles I have. So, I had to walk.”

Starr wasn’t happy. “We didn’t need that,” Starr responded when asked about the resignation. “Fred is a man of high principle, but principle is one thing, principle without honor another.”

Packers DE Ezra Johnson Gets In Hot Water for Eating a Hot Dog on the Bench During a Game: The Aftermath

With just a few days left before the start of the regular season, Starr had to find a new defensive line coach. He hired Jim Champion who finished the season in that role.

Johnson stayed on the team and started in 15 of the team’s 16 games that season, recording nine sacks which tied him for the team lead with Mike Butler. Starr reportedly gave Johnson back the $1,000 fine after the season.

“I was labeled as a guy with a bad attitude and uncoachable,” Johnson said later. “I had to prove myself to each new coach after that.”

Johnson stayed with the Packers through the 1987 season and was in the NFL until 1991. He recorded 14.5 sacks in 1983.

The team surprised everybody by beating the Chicago Bears in the season opener 12-6 in overtime. The winning touchdown was scored by kicker Chester Marcol who returned his own blocked field goal try and ran in for the score. Marcol later admitted he was high on cocaine at the time.

But even that bit of rare drama couldn’t save the 1980 Packers. They finished the season 5-10-1 after losing their final four games. In the final three, they were outscored 107-13.

Johnson did keep his sense of humor. Years later when introduced to the crowd at Packers alumni weekend at Lambeau Field, he came to the sidelines holding a hot dog. Johnson was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1997.

 

 

 

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