Millsap head coach Jacob Johnson with his son, Braun Johnson.
Millsap Football / Felts Photography
Courtesy to the Star-Telegram
Millsap head football coach Jacob Johnson died Friday, Millsap ISD announced.
Johnson, 45, had been living with leukemia for three years. His health was improving, but in September, his cancer relapsed, and he stepped away from the sidelines to undergo further treatment. He is survived by his wife, Cassie Johnson, and his children, Braun and Payton.
Millsap ISD released the following statement to its community:
“It is with genuine and deep sadness that we share the news that our colleague, coach, and friend, Coach Jake Johnson, passed away earlier this morning. Coach Johnson was a valued, respected, and impactful member of the Millsap Community for more than a decade. His contributions to Millsap I.S.D. are generational, meaning his actions and service will shape the lives, values and circumstances of individuals for decades to come.
“Please keep Coach Johnson’s family in your thoughts and prayers. We also ask that you say a special prayer of comfort for our student body and our staff as we collectively navigate this most difficult time.
“Please be mindful of the family’s time and space. We will provide updates as they become available.”
Millsap’s home game at Bulldog Stadium against Eastland on Friday will continue as scheduled at the family’s request, Millsap ISD told the Star-Telegram. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
Johnson was hired to coach the Bulldogs and serve as athletic director in 2015. He posted a 52-71 overall record during his tenure.
After posting a 3-7 record in 2025, the Bulldogs are having what could be their best season in over a decade with a 6-1 overall record (4-0 in District 5-3A Division II). Millsap won six games in 2021 and 2022 and seven games in 2020 but hasn’t hit eight wins since 2009.
“We expect when we step onto the field to be able to compete with anyone,” Jacob Johnson told the Star-Telegram in an Oct. 11 interview.
Braun Johnson is Millsap’s starting running back as a junior and is having a wildly productive season. He has 1,815 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns while averaging 16 yards per carry and 262 yards per game.
“He literally works out on top of what we do at school,” Jacob Johnson said. “He does his own every night. I have to stop him. I have to say, ‘Hey, you got to stop. You got to rest.’”
Jacob Johnson’s first coaching job was a graduate assistant role at Southwest Baptist University, his alma mater. He had stints as an assistant at Fort Worth Arlington Heights and Richland under current Royals head coach Ged Kates.
“[Football] is a ministry to me. One hundred percent a ministry,” Jacob Johnson said. “I don’t care who you are. If you’re going to step into our program, you’re going to be treated the same way.”
The Bulldog community had been rallying behind Jacob Johnson in a season Braun described as bigger than football and spiritual. Jacob Johnson had planned to coach from the hospital during his treatment, calling in to his coordinators.
A banner on the fence at Millsap’s field draws from 1 Corinthians 16:13, which tells men to be watchful, firm in their faith and strong. Jacob Johnson told the Star-Telegram the message applies whether he is on the sideline.
His main message for the Bulldogs was to be “young men of integrity.”
Several area programs took to social media to pay their respects and share the love they held for Jacob Johnson, including Tolar, Benbrook and Eagle Mountain.
“There wasn’t a FLAW in this man,” Eagle Mountain offensive coordinator Will Kates said. “He truly was the BEST of us. Love that guy like my own brothers and will miss him deeply.”
Johnson’s wife, Cassie Johnson, wrote the following on Facebook:
“I don’t know how to put in to words quite how I feel or process what has happened,” Cassie Johnson wrote. “Jake 1st of all loved the Lord our God with all of his heart, mind, soul and strength! He loved me so fiercely and with so much passion and intentionality! He was the most incredible father! Everything was a teachable moment or he always thought of special things to do or lessons to be learned!
“He was the best football coach there ever was! He always said it was his job to create men then teach them how to play football. He also had a mission to make disciples out of them! He was a wonderful son and brother! He loved his parents and brother so much and made sure to check in on them daily!
“He modeled what his family would look like based on his childhood. He is a devoted friend, and if you were his friend, he always made sure you knew how loved and special you are to him! He never left anything unsaid! Most of all, I miss him.”
This story was originally published October 23, 2026 at 8:47 AM.
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.