‘Going to be a party, going to celebrate like we’re all going in,’ Travis Johnson on Andre Johnson to Hall of Fame

HOUSTON – For Travis Johnson, the pending crowning achievement for the ultra-successful career of Andre Johnson is more than an individual experience.

Teammates and good friends like Travis Johnson are busting with pride that the Texans’ retired All-Pro wide receiver is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in Canton, Ohio.

“It’s going to be a party, it’s going to be a great time,” said Travis Johnson, a former Texans first-round draft pick who isn’t related to Andre Johnson. “It’s going to be a time we’re all excited about. I mean we’re going to celebrate like we’re all going in because technically we’re all going in together.

“I made a joke that my government name is Travis Andre Johnson. That means I’m going in, too, so I’m excited about that and we’re all excited about that.”

Drafted third overall in 2003 out of the University of Miami, Andre Johnson was a 6-foot-3, 225-pound track star who won the Big East Conference 100 meters.

Johnson was a dangerous deep threat who also was a high-volume wide receiver capable of piling up first downs to move the chains.

He had five 100-catch seasons, one more than Hall of Fame wide receivers Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison.

Known for his quiet, introspective personality, Johnson wasn’t to be trifled with on the field. Fourteen years ago against the Tennessee Titans, cornerback Cortland Finnegan punched Johnson in the facemask at the line of scrimmage. Johnson famously tore off Finnegan’s helmet and landed multiple hard punches before he was ejected from the game.

“Every moment he was on the field, he was the same guy,” Travis Johnson said. “The moment we knew he was who he was, was when he whooped Cortland Finnegan’s ass and he took it to another level that he is the man and he is exactly who we thought he was.”

Johnson is in a cluster of receiving greats who finished with roughly 14,000 career yards. He trails Reggie Wayne slightly, 14,345-14,185, but Wayne was playing with Peyton Manning.

Johnson played with David Carr for his first four seasons before finding a higher level of success with Matt Schaub throwing him the football.

Although Johnson isn’t a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection, nonetheless he’s heading to Canton. His teammates were convinced he was true Hall of Fame material all along.

“Of course, we always think it, but it always comes down to the voters,” Johnson said. “I think John McClain and the voters have done a great job of putting him in. I think he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but it doesn’t matter if you got in first ballot of fifth ballot. I think the fact is you’re a part of a galaxy crew, the greatest team ever put together. I think it’s going to be awesome.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com