Johnny Majors

College

University of Tennessee

John Terrill Majors was born on May 21, 1935, in Lynchburg, Tennessee (Moore County), the son of Shirley Majors, who coached football for 40 years at Huntland High School. A gifted single-wing tailback at the University of Tennessee under coach Bowden Wyatt, Majors finished second in Heisman Trophy voting in 1956 behind Paul Hornung of Notre Dame — many observers felt he was the better player that year. As a coach he became one of the most successful in the history of college football: he rebuilt the University of Pittsburgh program from the ground up and led the Panthers to an undefeated national championship season in 1976 (with Tony Dorsett winning the Heisman Trophy), then returned home to the University of Tennessee, where he coached the Volunteers from 1977 to 1992, winning SEC championships and producing multiple NFL draft picks. His family name is one of the most deeply embedded in Tennessee football history — five Majors brothers played Division I college football. Lynchburg is also famous as the home of the Jack Daniel's Distillery, one of the most recognized American brands in the world. Born in Lynchburg, Tennessee.