Andre Johnson wasn’t always the most vocal guy, but he was still the Texans’ unquestioned leader on and off the football field.
He was the go-to receiver target on the field and always came up with the big catch when everyone in the stadium knew who the ball was going to be. Johnson, with the signature bandage across the bridge of his nose, was also the leader in the huddle and in the locker room when necessary.
Johnson will lead the Texans one more time Saturday when he becomes the franchise’s first player to ever be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Johnson will don his Gold Jacket and be immortalized with his bronze bust in a ceremony that will begin at 11 a.m.
It’s an honor the Texans’ greatest player has dreamed of for a while and one he shares with so many.
“It means a lot. It’s – I don’t think this was only just for me,” said Johnson, who was notified of his induction into the Hall of Fame this past January after coming up short the previous couple of years. “I think this was for the whole city of Houston. It’s for the whole organization.
“I don’t – just hearing people talk about – grown men telling me that they were crying. Having people to tell you that God gave us a superhero here in Houston. Those are things that you don’t even realize how people look up to you or how playing that game can affect a city. It’s been a – I’m still trying to take it all in, but it’s been a great experience so far.”
It’s a fitting tribute to a man and player who gave everything in him from the moment the upstart franchise drafted Johnson No.3 overall out of Miami until he played his final season for the Texans in 2014.
During his time here, he gave Texans fans some memorable moments, reaching high and low to come up with some of the most unbelievable catches in some of the franchise’s biggest moments.
He finished his career with the Texans with team records that included 13,591 receiving yards, 1,012 career receptions and his 10 seasons leading the team in receptions was also a standard that will be hard to ever top.
“Just so proud of Andre and all of his accomplishments throughout his career and for him to reach the pinnacle in football of being enshrined as Hall of Famer it means the world to us as an organization.”
– DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans Head Coach
Along the way, Johnson was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a two-time NFL receptions leader, a two-time All-Pro, and a two-time NFL receiving yards leader. Johnson, who of course, spent his last two seasons playing for AFC South rivals Indianapolis and Tennessee, left the game as the NFL’s 11th all-time leader in career receptions (1,062) and receiving yards (14,185).
It only seems right that the Texans will open the preseason schedule against the Chicago Bears at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Thursday in Canton. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, who played with Johnson, and the entire franchise will be around to celebrate Johnson’s enshrinement on Saturday.
Johnson is the franchise’s first Hall of Fame inductee, with J.J. Watt likely being the next, provided he doesn’t come out of retirement.
“As a friend you talk about the history of our organization to be the first Hall of Famer for the Houston Texans. I think it’s only right that we all go and support Dre,” Ryans said this week. “I think for a lot of us, it will be our first time being in Canton at the Hall of Fame, so it will be a unique experience for us all and we’re looking forward to it. Just so proud of Andre and all of his accomplishments throughout his career and for him to reach the pinnacle in football of being enshrined as Hall of Famer it means the world to us as an organization.”
For Johnson, who will be presented for enshrinement by former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, this is a dream come true. It’s also an honor he looks forward to sharing with the entire city of Houston.
“Honestly, I can’t wait to see what happens in Canton,” Johnson said. “I hear it. I could be in the grocery store or wherever, and all you hear is, ‘If they let you in Canton, we’re coming.’ So, I know there will be a lot of people there, and I know it will be a great moment for everybody.”
