Washington Pro Bowl OL Passes Away Suddenly

The Washington Commanders are mourning the sudden death of Tre’ Johnson, the former Pro Bowl offensive guard who anchored the team’s offensive line for most of the 1990s. Johnson, 54, died unexpectedly on Sunday, February 15, 2026, while on a brief family trip, his wife Irene announced via social media.

Irene Johnson’s statement described a man whose life revolved around family, football, and the classroom. “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my husband, Tre’ Johnson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly,” she wrote, adding that the couple’s four children—Chloe, EJ, EZ, and Eden—were “devastated and in shock.” She recalled how Johnson never missed one of his children’s practices or games, and how he shared a passion for French bulldogs and motorcycle rides with close friends.

On the field, Johnson’s eight-year tenure in Washington (1994-2001) was defined by durability and power. A second-round selection out of Temple in the 1994 NFL Draft, he started every game at guard for the 1999 squad that earned him a Pro Bowl nod. That season helped propel Washington to the divisional round of the playoffs, where the club fell to the eventual NFC champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson finished his career with a single-season stop in Cleveland before retiring after the 2001 campaign.

Following football, Johnson discovered a second calling in education. He taught history at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, earning admiration from students and faculty alike for his mentorship and classroom presence. Recent health challenges had forced him to take a leave of absence, but colleagues say his impact on the school community remains indelible.

Johnson is survived by his wife Irene and their four children. The organization he represented for the bulk of his NFL career expressed its sorrow in a brief statement: “We’re heartbroken to learn of the loss of former Washington All-Pro guard Tre’ Johnson. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”