After 38 years with the San Diego Chargers, Johnston defied `Not For Long’ norm in National Football League

The three initials for National Football League, or NFL, can also refer to “Not For Long,” when describing the length of players’ careers and coaches’ tenure.

Likewise, employment in NFL administrative offices can be short-lived because new general managers will hire familiar acquaintances for various front-office jobs, including the role in which San Diego native Bill Johnston served.

Johnston’s career in sports, however, was anything but short-lived.

For 38 years, Johnston worked in communications, public relations (PR) and community relations for one NFL team, the San Diego Chargers. He joined the team as an intern in 1979 and never left.

“Yes, it often happens that way. New owners, coaches and GMs often bring in their own people with whom they have previously worked for front-office positions,” Johnston told Times of San Diego. “I was fortunate to have remained with the Chargers for so many years with a number of different bosses.”

Johnston counts two team owners (Gene Klein and the Spanos family), six general managers and 10 head coaches during his lengthy years of service with the Chargers before the team’s relocation to Los Angeles in 2017.

From 1990 to 2017, Johnston served as director of public relations. In that role, he was responsible for managing the public image and overall communications strategy for the Chargers, including media relations and all organizational messaging. In addition, he was the team’s primary liaison with the NFL’s broadcast partners, as well as local and national media outlets.

At team practices, Johnston was on the field answering reporters’ questions. He would walk off the field with the head coach before both spoke to the media. On game day, he would talk with the head coach prior to his postgame press conference, discussing talking points and potential questions.

“I’ve always believed in building relationships with the people you work with and gaining their trust by being authentic,” Johnston said. “When you’re candid with your feelings and when people know that you have their best interests at heart, then they will trust you in your consulting. Once people trust you, then they want to work with you.”

But, in May 2017, for highly personal reasons, Johnston resigned from the Chargers. He chose family over football.

In 1999, wife Ramona Johnston was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that took away her ability to speak along with other motor skills.

After graduating from San Diego State University with a journalism degree in 1981, Bill married Ramona, a fellow Helix High School grad who caught his eye as a cheerleader. They raised two children, daughter Hayley and son Jared.

When the Chargers moved to Los Angeles, Bill elected to stay in San Diego to ensure that Ramona would receive the best care possible at a place where she was comfortable: Edgemore Skilled Nursing Facility in Santee.

On May 8, 2017, Bill wrote on social media, “I will not be joining the Chargers when they move north. Ramona is getting the best care in the best place for her, which means here with her is the best place for me. So, today is my last day with the Chargers.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I joined the organization as an intern 38 years ago in 1979. I just knew I had been on sports teams my entire life and this made sense. Now, looking back, it has been a great ride.

“Will I miss it? Of course, I’ll miss being around the team and celebrating after big wins. But most of all, I’ll miss the people – both inside and outside the Chargers – that I’ve been blessed to meet through this crazy business. It’s the people and their passion for the sport that make this business special.

“No matter where I end up, I will continue to focus whatever free time I have to raise awareness in the fight against Huntington’s disease. Thank you to everyone for your help and support.”

Johnston is credited with raising more than $900,000 from the 20 Rock ‘n’ Roll marathons he has run in. When including two annual events he started, including the Celebration of Hope Gala and the Shoot to Cure HD, his fundraising efforts exceeded $3 million.

After leaving the Chargers, Johnston remained unemployed for the short span of six weeks. “I had never not had a job since my freshman year in college,” he said.

In July 2017, Johnston was offered a position with the San Diego Padres as special advisor to Ron Fowler, the team’s executive chairman.

“I had known Ron for many years based on his incredible contributions and support of the community,” Johnston said. “He invited me to join the Padres and I jumped at the opportunity. I love baseball.”

Johnston played baseball at SDSU as an infielder until a shoulder injury interrupted his long-term plans as a player. He spent nine seasons (2017-2025) as an employee with the Padres. Johnston served as VP of community relations with the Padres from 2020 to 2025. At the end of 2025, the 68-year-old officially became a retiree.

“It was time for me to step away,” Johnston said. “My dad died when he was 59 and he never took the time to enjoy the fruits of his labor. I didn’t want that for me.”

On Dec. 19, 2025, Johnston posted the following on social media: “After 38 seasons with the Chargers and nine seasons with the Padres, it’s time for my season. Not sure exactly what that means, but I’m ready to spend more time doing things I’ve always wanted to do, especially now that I have Cathy to share them with as well as my new granddaughter Remi (Remi is the eight-month-old daughter of Hayley, 38, whose husband Andrew Olson is an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers).

“Thank you to the colleagues, coaches, athletes and so many others who made this journey unforgettable,” Johnston wrote. “I’ve enjoyed amazing highs and some really tough lows, but I’m most grateful for the relationships built over nearly five decades in sports that I will carry with me long after I leave my office for the final time today.”

Ramona Johnston passed away on April 5, 2019. On Halloween of that same year, Bill first met future wife Cathy for coffee. They were married in 2023.

In his retirement over the past eight months, Johnston has stayed busy playing golf with son Jared, 41, who lives in San Diego while also staying engaged with his long list of connections. Bill and Cathy recently moved from Downtown San Diego to South Carlsbad.

“I’ve also spent time staying in contact with friends and former colleagues,” Johnston said. “When you retire, you have to be proactive and stay in touch.”

In the case of Bill Johnston’s career, it could be said that good things happen to good people.

“I’ve always tried to do the right thing, be kind and honest and let people know you care about them,” he said. “It’s no secret. If you exhibit those qualities, people will respond in the same ways towards you.”