Eagles defensive coordinator Johnson has cancer

Posted: Thu Jan 29 6:03 PM

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has been diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer, the club announced on Thursday.

According to a Philadelphia newspaper, Johnson was told Monday that the cancer was found in his spine but had not spread to the lungs or brain.

"The original site was a skin cancer in 2001," said team head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder. "Who knows where it tracked from there, but his symptoms came from the spine. There are some other areas in his body (that have cancer), but I'm not going to get into where else some other stuff is. They will all be treated together. The main deal is his back right now. He's got a bone tumor down in his low back and that's what we have to attack right now."

The 67-year-old, who has overseen the defense for the entirety of Andy Reid's head coaching tenure, will remain behind for treatment as the remainder of the staff heads to the Pro Bowl in Honolulu on February 8.

There had been speculation in recent weeks over Johnson's condition, as the usually spry coach had experienced back pain.

He had been reduced to walking with a cane during a division-round victory over the New York Giants and had to use a golf cart to get around prior to the NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals on January 18. During that contest, Johnson observed the action and gave his orders from the stadium press box.

According to the club, Johnson intends to return to the sidelines for 2009, but is slated to undergo radiation treatment at Bryn Mawr Hospital, located in a nearby Philadelphia suburb.