Former Washington standout Tre Johnson has died “suddenly and unexpectedly” at the age of 54, his heartbroken wife revealed in an emotional message.
Johnson, a dominant offensive guard who played eight seasons in Washington from 1994 to 2001 before finishing his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns, passed away Sunday while on a family trip. What was meant to be time together turned into an unimaginable tragedy.
He leaves behind his wife, Irene, and their four children — Chloe, EJ, EZ and Eden.
In a deeply personal Facebook tribute, Irene described a man whose world revolved around his family.
“If you know Tre, you know what a devoted and loving father he was,” she wrote. “Tre lived for his kids’ sports activities and supported them through every practice and game until he took his last breath.”
She shared that beyond football, Johnson loved riding his motorcycle and spending time with friends — passions he enthusiastically shared with her.
Johnson’s football journey began long before the NFL spotlight. A standout at Temple University, he was selected 31st overall in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. Five years later, he reached the pinnacle of his career, earning a Pro Bowl selection and Second-Team All-Pro honors.
“He loved the game and prided himself on his tremendous knowledge of it,” Irene said.
But for Johnson, life after football became just as meaningful.
After retiring from the league, he turned to education, becoming a history teacher at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. There, he mentored young men and became a beloved figure among students and faculty alike. However, Irene revealed that recent health struggles had forced him to take a leave of absence from his teaching job.
“We will miss him so much,” she wrote.
Sportscaster Chick Hernandez, who once shared a close friendship with Johnson, said the former lineman had been at Hampton University to watch his son play football when he collapsed at his hotel.
“Tre was one of the smartest players I’ve ever met or covered,” Hernandez wrote. “The conversations always veered away from football. Sorry we lost touch later in life. RIP Big smarty.”
Johnson’s sudden passing has left former teammates, students, and fans reeling — remembering not just the Pro Bowl guard, but the father, teacher, and mentor who meant so much to so many.
So sorry for his young family’s loss of their husband and dad.