Just incredibly sad news to pass down as former NFL linebacker Johnie Cooks has died. Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed the news on his Twitter, saying: ‘Rest in peace, Johnie Cooks.’
Johnie Cooks, arguably the greatest player to ever play football at Mississippi State University, was 64 years old.
Cooks was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft and a starter on the New York Giants’ 1990 Super Bowl championship team. Cooks was famously part of the Bulldogs’ 1980 victory over No. 1 ranked Alabama.
Cooks had a standout career at Mississippi State where he is a member of the hall of fame there.
The Mississippi native who starred at Mississippi State went right after No. 1 overall pick Kenneth Sims in that 1982 draft. He earned all-rookie team honors that season.
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Cooks would play six seasons for the Colts, making 74 starts. He collected a career-high 11.5 sacks in 1984. Traded to the New York Giants in 1988, Cooks started 23 games in three seasons for the Giants, including six starts on that Super Bowl-winning team that also featured Lawrence Taylor, Pepper Johnson, and Carl Banks.
Cooks retired after the 1992 season after a year with the Cleveland Browns.
