Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Recovery center in Las Vegas is latest mission for former Denver Broncos player

Vance Johnson Recovery Center

Steve Marcus

Vance Johnson and his mother Ima Jean Johnson pose in a double patient room during the grand opening of the Vance Johnson Recovery Center near Sahara Avenue and Highland Drive Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

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An exterior view of the Vance Johnson Recovery Center, a 44-bed addiction treatment facility near Sahara Avenue and Highland Drive, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. The center is

After a decadelong NFL career with the Denver Broncos ended in 1995, Vance Johnson fell into a downward spiral of drinking and prescription drug abuse.

He lost personal relationships, money and his soul, Johnson said in his book "Uncovered: Why Becoming Less Became Everything."

He even pawned an AFC Championship ring.

Things only got worse in 2007, when Johnson's 19-year-old son, Vaughn, was killed in a motorcycle crash. The grieving father recalled being so high at the funeral that he could barely stand.

He tried sobering up on his own, but it wasn't until after he contemplated suicide in 2013 that he checked into a Florida recovery facility and got sober — for his late son and for God, he said.

Now, he is on a mission to help others by working with Oglethorpe Inc., a national network of psychiatric and addiction centers, at its new Vance Johnson Recovery Center in Las Vegas.

The 44-bed facility at 2651 Westwood Drive, near Sahara Avenue and Interstate 15, opened in October.

Oglethorpe Inc. brought on Johnson as an ambassador of sorts, but he plans to participate in day-to-day operations, such as working with patients in therapy sessions and at the on-site gym, said Veronica Scala, the center's marketing director.

Whether it's kitchen work or sweeping floors, "I'm all in," said Johnson, 56, who is buying a home in Las Vegas.

The facility had a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 27 attended by local dignitaries, Johnson's parents, friends and fans. He smiled as he shook hands, took photos with people and signed books and pictures from his football days.

Johnson told the group he was still alive by the grace of God and that he wanted the facility to be "the home that Vance built."

"I've been waiting for this day my whole life," Johnson said. He said he was humbled to be a "beacon of light" for those facing struggles like those he overcame.

One of the people at the ceremony was Tom Byington, an old friend Johnson had not seen in 20 years.

Johnson didn't realize it, but Byington had been hanging onto something for Johnson for all those years. Byington handed him a small wooden box.

A smile spread across Johnson's face as he opened the box. It was his AFC Championship ring.

"Oh, my God," Johnson said. "I love you so much."