Leppitsch is expected to be named the Lions' new coach on Wednesday, taking over from his former captain Michael Voss.
The 37-year-old was a crucial part of the legendary Lions teams of the early 2000s.
Leppitsch moved to Brisbane as a teenager and went through the tough times at the club, before developing into a three-time All Australian and triple-premiership winning defender by the end of his career.
A number of the Lions' younger players have signalled their intent to leave Brisbane and return to their home states, but Johnson says they can only benefit from Leppitsch's open level of communication.
"He's the guy that can actually talk the guys through, that want to go home, how he coped with it all," Johnson told AFL.com.au.
"He's the perfect guy to be able to do that and guide them through the next phase of the football club."
Leppitsch's ability to instill important "cultural habits" at the start of his playing career with the Lions will transfer into his coaching style, according to Johnson.
In his time as an assistant coach at Richmond, Leppitsch has been renowned for being honest and fair and Johnson believes he will give the Lions' players the opportunity to prove themselves.
The former Fitzroy player would also consider joining Leppitsch's prospective coaching panel if his former teammate approached him.
But Johnson stressed he would need to consult with his family before making any decision to head north.
"I'd certainly sit down and chat with him and see what sort of direction [he wants to go in], but at this present time I'm pretty happy with my role at the AFL," he said.
Twitter: @AFL_BenGuthrie
