HOUSTON – Andre Johnson made history when the retired star wide receiver became the first Texans player to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Now, Johnson has selected Gary Kubiak, his former coach as his presenter this summer when he’ll be inducted in Canton.
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To be voted into the Hall, Johnson had to receive at least 80% of the votes from a 50-person committee. Also elected into the 2024 class were defensive end Dwight Freeney, linebacker Randy Gradishar, return man Devin Hester, defensive tackle Steve McMichael, defensive end Julius Peppers and linebacker Patrick Willis.
Kubiak coached Johnson, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, during his tenure from 2016 to 2013 in Houston. During that span, Johnson led the NFL in catches in 2006 and 2008 and in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009 and was a first-team All-Pro selection.
“I tell people that ask me ‘how does it feel?,’ I just feel like I’m on a cloud right now,” Johnson said when he was selected. “I don’t think anything could make me mad.”
When asked his favorite plays, Johnson mentioned two. One was against Arizona in 2009 when he caught a pass from Matt Schaub and ran over three defenders on his way to a 17-yard score. The other was in 2010 against Washington. The Texans trailed by a touchdown with just over two minutes left. They were facing fourth-and-10 when Schaub threw the ball up to Johnson, who caught it over safety Reed Doughty. The score tied the game, and the Texans won in overtime.
'It means a lot. This isn't only for me. This is for the city of Houston. I feel like I'm on a cloud right now. I don't think anything could make me mad' Andre Johnson on being the first @HoustonTexans to be named to @ProFootballHOF @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/rajgJWA8K6
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 14, 2024
Johnson, 42, was selected by the Texans with the third overall pick of the 2003 NFL draft out of the University of Miami.
“I don’t think this was only just for me,” Johnson said. “This was for the whole city of Houston. For the whole organization. Grown men telling me they were crying, having people tell you, ‘God gave us a superhero here in Houston’ — you don’t realize how people look up to you.”
Johnson is the Texans’ all-time leader in receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns. He ranks 11th in NFL history with 1,062 catches and 14,184 receiving yards and is tied for 51st with 70 touchdown catches.
A four-time All-Pro selection, Johnson had five seasons with at least 100 catches and three seasons with 1,500 receiving yards, despite never having played with a Hall of Fame quarterback in Houston
“It’s probably one of the best feelings that I’ve had in a very, very long time,” Johnson said. “Just getting that knock at the door was very emotional and it was just kind of a sense of closure to my career. I always said that I never ever thought of being a Hall of Famer, but to have that happen, it was a tremendous feeling.”
And Johnson attributes a lot of his success to Kubiak’s coaching.
“Yeah, definitely,” Johnson said. “I didn’t really feel like my career took off until Kubiak became my head coach. The first year, he didn’t really move me around a lot and like he said, he came to me and talked about it. He was like, ‘Hey, I’m going to have to move you around. You’re going to have to learn everything that goes on in the offense.’
“And I learned every position. If you look at some games, there was some games I even lined up at fullback and he would motion me out of the backfield and things of that nature. I really, I give coach Kubiak a lot of credit because I guess there was just something that he saw in me as a player, and it helped elevate my game. It helped take my game to another level, so I give coach Kubiak a lot of credit.”
Growing up in Florida, Johnson idolized arguably the top receiver in NFL history.
“I mean, Jerry Rice was my favorite wide receiver to watch,” Johnson said. “I tell people hands down, he’s the best receiver that ever played the game, probably could even be mentioned as one of the greatest players to ever play, but I watched a lot of different players growing up. It wasn’t just wide receivers, Marshall Faulk, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders was always my favorite running back. Dan Marino, to me, is I mean I know he hadn’t won all of the Super Bowls – but to me, he is my favorite quarterback to ever play the game.”
Johnson, a member of the Texans’ Ring of Honor, was a finalist each of the past three years.
The Hall of Fame selection committee revealed their 2024 Class at NFL Honors during the week leading up to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Every candidate must receive at least 80 percent of the vote from the selection committee at the annual meeting before he can be elected.
“I’m so proud of Andre, who has always been a Hall of Fame person, friend, father and son in our eyes,” Texans co-founder and co-chair Janice McNair said in a statement. “Andre was a once-in-a-generation player who is at the heart of some of the most memorable moments in our team’s history, including his induction as the inaugural member of the Texans Ring of Honor. We are honored to have been a part of his journey and I know Bob would be overjoyed Andre is receiving this special, well-deserved recognition.”
Johnson played a dozen seasons for the Texans and 14 years overall, catching 1,062 career passes for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns. He’s a seven-time Pro Bl selection and a four-time All-Pro
Johnson holds the Texans’ all-time records with 1,012 catches, 13,597 yards, 64 receiving touchdowns, and 51 100-yard games. He holds single-game records for most receptions (14), receiving yards (273), and receiving touchdowns (three) in a game.
Johnson attends several Texans games, During a press conference, he expressed confidence in the direction of the franchise under the leadership of coach DeMeco Ryans, his former teammate.
Following his final two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, Johnson signed a one-day contract with the Texans that allowed him to retire as a member of the organization.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving to be the Texans’ first Hall of Fame inductee than Andre Johnson,” Texans principal owner Cal McNair said. “Every time he took the field, we knew he was bringing an incomparable passion and intensity that was a joy to watch. His impact across our community is immeasurable and we are thrilled he has secured his rightful place in NFL history forever. Andre will always be a Texan and now, he is officially a Hall of Famer.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
