Johnie Cooks, the former NFL linebacker who played for the Colts, New York Giants, and Cleveland Browns, has passed away at the age of 64. The sad news was confirmed by Colts owner Jim Irsay on Twitter, who wrote, Rest in peace, Johnie Cooks. While a cause of death has not been disclosed, it is known that Cooks had been dealing with some health issues.
During his career, Cooks played 83 games and made 74 starts over seven seasons with the Colts. He achieved the pinnacle of the sport when he won the Super Bowl with the Giants in 1991 and retired with the Browns in 1992. Cooks’ contributions to the game were recognized and he was inducted into the Mississippi Hall of Fame in 2004.
The Mississippi State family also expressed their grief at Cooks’ passing. The university released a statement on Thursday, saying, The Mississippi State family mourns the loss of all-time Bulldog great Johnie Cooks. Cooks was an SEC football legend and among the greatest to ever represent the Maroon and White. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Cooks’ football journey began at Mississippi State, where he played college football. In the 1982 NFL Draft, Cooks was the second overall pick and joined the Baltimore Colts. He spent six years with the team before they relocated to Indianapolis in 1983. In 1988, Cooks was released, and the Giants signed him. Three years later, he became a Super Bowl champion as the Giants edged out the Buffalo Bills in a memorable game.
The news of Cooks’ passing was met with an outpouring of condolences from those who knew and admired him. Former Mississippi Bulldogs teammate John Bond tweeted, Gonna miss ya Big Dawg! You were the best ever! Love ya my Brother! Mississippi State Director of Athletics Zac Selmon added, Johnie Cooks is without question among the very best to ever put on the Maroon and White while also standing as one of the most decorated college football players of his era. He truly did it all in his career, from earning accolade after accolade as a Bulldog to winning a Super Bowl in the NFL. Johnie will be remembered forever in Starkville as he is cemented as an MSU legend. We extend our deepest condolences to Johnie’s family, as well as all who knew, loved, and admired him.
In a video filmed four years ago for the Mississippi State Athletics YouTube channel, Cooks spoke about how playing football in Mississippi shaped him. He expressed gratitude for the opportunities he received and the impact it had on his life and family, saying, They changed my whole life and they changed my family’s life. They saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I needed them a lot more than they needed me.
Johnie Cooks’ legacy as a football player and his contributions to the sport will not be forgotten. His passing is a loss not only for his family and close ones but also for the football community as a whole. His memory will be cherished, and his impact will continue to be felt.
