A horrific weight lifting accident in the University of Southern California's weight room ended Stafon Johnson's college football career and nearly claimed his life. In September 2009, Johnson was bench-pressing 275 pounds in the weight room when the bar fell on his onto his neck. His throat and larynx were crushed and he needed extensive reconstructive surgery.

Recently, Johnson filed a lawsuit against USC and former assistant strength and conditioning coach Jamie Yanchar for unspecified damages for his injuries. According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, as Johnson was attempting to bench-press 275 pounds for the first time, Yanchar was distracted and not paying attention to Johnson at the time the bar was being lifted from the weight rack. As Yanchar placed the weight bar into Johnson's hands, he was inattentive and negligently hit the bar with his body before Johnson could establish a grip on the bar. As the bar was knocked off balance, it fell, crushing Johnson's throat.