Stafon Johnson was a tailback for the University of Southern California
who seemed destined for big things until a September 2009 weightlifting
accident crushed his larynx, nearly killing him. Although he made a
full recovery, his college career was over, and, it seemed, any hope of
making it to the NFL. However, he was signed as an un-drafted free
agent by the Tennessee Titans on April 24, 2010.
On August 14, 2010, he suffered a dislocated right ankle and a broken
fibula during a pre-season game. The Titans placed him on waivers three
days later, but he remained with the team on injured reserve. Released
by the Titans in September 2011, Johnson signed with the Washington
Redskins on December 28, 2011.
USC announced in January 2012 that Johnson's lawsuit against the
school, alleging that the negligence of its then-assistant strength and
conditioning coach caused Johnson's near-fatal weightlifting accident,
had been settled.