Daryl Johnston

Daryl Peter "Moose" Johnston (born February 10, 1966) is a former National Football League fullback who played his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 1999.

High school career
Johnston was named Western New York Player of the Year in 1983 while playing for Lewiston-Porter (locally known as Lew-Port) High School in Youngstown, New York. The Lancers won the division during Daryl's Senior year 1984. His Lew-Port jersey number, 34, was retired on September 1, 2006.

In 2008 he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He was also Valedictorian of his senior class.

College career
Johnston attended Syracuse University. As a redshirted freshman, Johnston played on special teams. He earned the starting fullback position his sophomore year in 1986.

While playing for Syracuse, Johnston was an All-Big East selection in 1988 and an All-American in 1989. He rushed for 1,830 yards and caught 46 passes during his collegiate career and once gained 138 yards rushing, the most by a Syracuse running back since Larry Csonka rushed for 154 yards in 1967.

He graduated with a degree in economics.

Professional career
Johnston was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft. There he received his nickname "Moose" from backup quarterback Babe Laufenberg. The name caught on among Dallas fans who would chant "Moooooose" whenever Johnston made a play.

As a Cowboy, Johnston played in 149 consecutive games from 1989-97. He was also one of the team's top special teams players.

In the NFL, he scored 22 career touchdowns, but had more receptions in his career than carries. He has 294 career receptions for 2,227 yards for a 7.6 yard per catch average and rushed for 753 yards on 232 carries for an average of 3.2 yards per carry. In 1993 Johnston had 50 receptions and averaged 7.4 yards per catch. Johnston earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in 1993 and 1994. Johnston was a member of three Super Bowl winning teams.

His 294 receptions is the third highest total among Cowboys running backs.

Due mainly to Johnston's contributions, the NFL created the fullback position in the Pro Bowl. Prior to this change blocking fullback had little chance of beating out a regular running back who had many more carries. In 1993 Johnston became the first fullback ever selected for the Pro Bowl.

Legacy
Johnston was considered one of the best fullbacks of his day, while blocking for Emmitt Smith, as Smith went on to become the all-time NFL rushing leader. However, Johnston was not the lead blocker for Smith's entire career. An unfortunate neck injury prematurely ended Johnston's career. Johnston was present the day Smith broke the rushing record; he was in the broadcasting booth, but came down onto the field to hug Smith and congratulate him afterward. As Smith made his victory lap of Texas Stadium after the record setting carry, Johnston hung back in the shadows. When Smith saw Johnston, the two joined together in an emotional embrace, with Smith telling Johnston, "I couldn't have done it without you". Johnston replied "It was my pleasure. I couldn't imagine doing it for anybody else."

Broadcasting career
Today, Johnston works as a color commentator alongside Kenny Albert on the second broadcast team of The NFL on Fox. He was recently hired as an analyst for the NFL Network's "Total Access" show, and will continue to do his weekly analysis during the 2010 regular season on Fox. Johnston also began calling the collegiate Cotton Bowl Classic game for Fox in 2009. He also was a guest star of the PBS television series Wishbone in its episode "Moonbone".

Personal life
A native of Youngstown, New York, Johnston now resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife Diane, son Aaron, and daughter Evan.

Johnston has been a major contributor to many charities including the Special Olympics, Children's Cancer Fund, Cystic Fibrosis and Literacy Instruction For Texas (LIFT). He has also served as honorary chairman for MDA's "Aisles of Smiles" campaign, and for the American Cancer Society's Gunslingers' Ball. In 1999, Johnston's numerous community service activities led to his nomination for the prestigious "Whizzer White Humanitarian Award."