Class of 2024: Andre Johnson – Breakout receiver breaks barrier for Texans’ franchise

By Barry Wilner
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame


 

And now, the Houston Texans can claim a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

ANDRE JOHNSON, a powerful and elusive receiver for the NFL’s most recent expansion addition (in 2002), joined the sport’s elite with his enshrinement Saturday. He’s the first primary Texan to be enshrined.

A very proud one, too.

“To the Texans’ fans and the city of Houston,” Johnson said in a memorable shout-out following chants of “Andre” from the fans, “words cannot describe the love you guys have and continue to have for me. We have created some great memories, and I cannot thank you guys enough for the way you have supported me, number 80. I am truly honored to be your first national football Hall of Famer. This accomplishment is not just about me. It is for us.”

Appropriately, the sun was shining as the storm-delayed proceedings concluded with Johnson’s entry into the Hall.

Drafted third overall in 2003, he spent his first 12 seasons with Houston, helping the Texans become a playoff team after their humble beginnings. In his 2008 All-Pro season, Johnson led the NFL in receptions (115) and yards receiving (1,575). He also topped the league with 1,569 yards receiving in 2009, another All-Pro season. Johnson had five 100-plus reception campaigns, the most of anyone enshrined in Canton, and is one of three players to lead the NFL in yards receiving in consecutive seasons during the Super Bowl era, joining Hall of Famers JERRY RICE and CALVIN JOHNSON.

Like fellow enshrinee DEVIN HESTER, Johnson starred for the Miami Hurricanes in college. It was there he truly recognized the level of effort, preparation and performance required to be elite.

“The U was where I was given the blueprint of what it was to be a professional,” he said. “You didn’t have a choice; everyone was great.

“It was a standard that was set, and you were going to follow that standard. Following that standard, we were able to help bring a national championship back to Miami in 2001.”

He never wavered from such a high benchmark.

In total, the dynamic and dependable Johnson made 1,062 receptions for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns in 193 regular-season pro games. He is, by far, the Texans’ most prolific pass catcher with 13,591 yards receiving on 1,012 receptions and 10 seasons leading the team in receptions. He had three games with 200-plus yards receiving, as well.

And he never played with an elite quarterback.

“There was no overnight success,” he noted. “It took years for us to get our team to where we wanted it to be.”

Being at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday with Texans fans and current players on hand to honor Johnson made it seem like a home game. That wasn’t something in his original plans.

“I only ever dreamed about making it to the NFL,” Johnson admitted. “As a little kid playing football in the streets of Carol City (Florida), in the hallways of school and wherever else we could run a play, it was the ultimate goal.

“Not even in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be in Canton looking at a bronze statue of me, that will be placed in a gallery with some of the greatest people to ever play this game. I didn’t even think about it.”

He told the Texans’ fans: “I can’t lie. I am happy as hell ... to be your first Pro Football Hall of Famer.”
 

 

More on the Enshrinement of each class member

Class members are listed in order of their Enshrinement speeches:

• Class of 2024: Dwight Freeney – Pushed himself ‘to make it happen’
• Class of 2024: Steve McMichael – Loved every minute of every down
• Class of 2024: Randy Gradishar – Shares credit for his legacy with teammates
• Class of 2024: Devin Hester – Enshrinement brings deeper respect to return game
• Class of 2024: Patrick Willis – Completed what he came to do in NFL
• Class of 2024: Julius Peppers – ‘Root people’ help plant him in Hall of Fame
• Class of 2024: Andre Johnson – Breakout receiver breaks barrier for Texans’ franchise