Countdown to 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement: Andre Johnson

In a rough and tumble game, ANDRE JOHNSON might best be described as tough and humble.

“I’m not trying to go out there and be the hero,” Johnson said when he began his NFL career. “I’m just playing and letting the plays come to me.”

Plays came to Johnson since his time at Miami Senior High School. During his senior season, he had 31 catches for 908 yards and 15 touchdowns. Head coach Nigel Dunn described Johnson in 1998, saying that “As far as athleticism, he’s the best we’ve ever had.”

A top prospect for the incoming class of recruits in 1999, Johnson landed close to home at the University of Miami.

There, he was a dominant receiver on a talent-filled team. In 2001, the Hurricanes played an undefeated season that ended with a Rose Bowl victory and national title. Johnson was named co-MVP of the championship game. In his three years at Miami, Johnson recorded 1,831 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.

After the Rose Bowl victory, Hurricanes quarterback and co-MVP Ken Dorsey said, “Andre Johnson is just a hell of a player.”

Coming off a successful college career on what is considered one of the best college football teams in history, Johnson was selected third overall by the Houston Texans during the 2003 NFL Draft.

In his first year in Houston, Johnson started every game, reaching the 100-yard mark three times that season. He continued to excel during the 2004 season, receiving his first Pro Bowl recognition for his 79 catches and 1,142 receiving yards.

After a promising start, Jerry Rice — Johnson’s stated reason for donning No. 80 in the NFL—gave advice to the young wide receiver. Rice told him to hold onto his passion, work hard and be open to advice.

If he played the game with that mindset, Rice said, “One day I’ll be sitting back and watching you and saying, ‘Wow, everything I did worked out. This guy’s carrying on that tradition.’”

Johnson embodied the spirit of hard work and coachability through the remainder of his 14-season pro career. He surpassed 100 receptions in a season five times and led the NFL in receiving yards in back-to-back seasons (2008-09).

Johnson holds most of the Texans’ receiving records, was the inaugural inductee to the Texans Ring of Honor and is the first Texans’ player to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Though he dominated on the field and in the record books, with 1,062 career catches for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns, Johnson maintained his humility.

“I never wanted to be the loud guy,” he said. “I always just felt if I go out here, do what I’m supposed to, people would notice that.”

People noticed a wide receiver who played hard, ran fast and spoke softly.

“Even though he was quiet at times,” said defensive end Antonio Smith, “his play was never quiet.”