Longtime Giants Trainer John Johnson From Bergen County Dies At 98

Beloved longtime athletic trainer with the New York Giants John Johnson died Sunday, a month shy of his 99th birthday, the team announced Tuesday.

Johnson enjoyed a 60-year career with the franchise. Only former owner Wellington Mara had been with the team longer.

Johnson was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor last year.

Giants' president and chief executive officer John Mara said Johnson was "one of the finest men I have ever known."

"Nobody was more loved and respected than Mr. J," Mara said. "We were so pleased to be able to include him in our Ring of Honor this past season. He was part of the family and we will miss him terribly."

Johnson began working for the Giants in 1948, a year after he became head athletic trainer at Manhattan College, a position he held for 56 years.

Johnson worked for 12 head coaches, beginning with Steve Owen and ending with Tom Coughlin.

Johnson was inducted into the Ring of Honor with former players Chris Snell and Osi Umenyiora.

Visitation will be at Moritz Funeral Home at 348 Closter Dock Road in Closter Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be Saturday at 11 .m. at the United Methodist Church in Demarest. Interment will be at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Salvation Army, Vantage Health Systems, 2 Park Ave., Dumont, N.J., or the United Methodist Church at Demarest.