Tag: Andre Johnson Hall of Fame

Former Texans WR Andre Johnson snubbed again from Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Houston Texans All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson did not make the cut to be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2023.

The Houston Texans will have to keep waiting to get one of their own — homegrown at that — into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Legendary Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson was not among the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2023, which was announced at the NFL Honors on Thursday night at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona.

Cornerback Darrelle Revis, left tackle Joe Thomas, outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, linebacker Zach Thomas and cornerback Ronde Barber were among the modern-era inductees.

Johnson played 12 seasons with Houston from 2003-14 and remains the all-time leader in career receptions (1,012), receiving yards (13,597), receiving touchdowns (64) and 100-yard games (51).

He also holds multiple single-game records for the Texans, including most receptions (14), receiving yards (273) and receiving touchdowns (three). Johnson also has the single-season franchise record for receptions with 115 in 2008 and receiving yards with 1,598 in 2012.

The four-time All-Pro selection and seven-time Pro Bowler played in 2015 for the Indianapolis Colts and in 2016 with the Tennessee Titans. He finished his career with 1,062 catches for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns.

“He is a legend in every sense of the word, and I will always be grateful for his incredible contributions to our team and the impact he continues to have on our organization and the City of Houston,” chairman and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement on Jan. 4 when Johnson was announced as a finalist. “From the day he became a Texan in 2003, he was the definition of a competitor on the field and a pillar in our community. We will continue to take every opportunity to celebrate Andre’s career and everything he has accomplished.”

Johnson retired with the Texans organization on April 19, 2017, by signing a one-day contract with the team. On Nov. 19, 2017, against the Arizona Cardinals, Johnson was inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor as its inaugural member.

The induction of the class of 2023 will take place at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Aug. 5.

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Andre Johnson reveals when in his Texans career he thought he could be a Hall of Famer

Andre Johnson revealed when in his Houston Texans career he started to believe he could make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

As a 22-year-old entering the NFL, Andre Johnson wasn’t focused on the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Houston Texans’ No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft was busy enough trying to be the best version of himself.

“I think once you’re drafted, when I came here, I didn’t say to myself, ‘I want to be a Hall of Fame player,'” Johnson said. “I just always said I wanted to be a great player. I wanted to be one of the best to ever play. I never said I wanted to make it to the Hall of Fame.”

The Texans were in their second season of existence when Johnson came into the league. When Johnson made the Pro Bowl back then, coaches on the AFC team almost didn’t know what team he represented — that is how young the Texans still were when Johnson took his first trip to Hawaii.

Similarly, as Johnson began to collect more accolades, break records and lead the league in statistical categories, it started to crystallize for the former Miami product.

“As your career goes along, you guys [the media] always remind us of our stats and things we’re accomplishing,” said Johnson. “Then it’s like, ‘Man, OK, I was the first person to do this,’ or ‘I did something that Jerry Rice did.’ Now it comes in your mind, ‘Well, maybe I can get in there one day.’”

Johnson was a two-time All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler in his career. He led the NFL in catches in 2006 and 2008 and in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009.

“I don’t think that’s it’s something that you come in and just assume is going to happen,” Johnson said of getting into the Hall.

Johnson is one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Hall of Fame’s 2023 class. The inaugural Texans Ring of Honor member, who played from 2003-2014 for Houston, was a finalist a year ago.

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Texans legend Andre Johnson was not disappointed following 2022 Hall of Fame snub

Former Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson says that he was not upset when he did not make the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2022.

Andre Johnson is in familiar territory.

The former Houston Texans receiver is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second year in a row. The two-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler did not make the cut for the 2022 class of modern-era inductees.

When Johnson didn’t make it, there were no hard feelings, no disappointment.

“There was no disappointment,” Johnson said. “Like I said, it was out of my control. Anything that I could do, I’ve done it already. I can’t do anything else. I can’t go catch another touchdown. I can’t catch any more footballs. Everything I’ve needed to do, I’ve done.”

Johnson led the NFL in catches in 2006 and 2008 along with leading the league in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009. All the while the former 2003 No. 3 overall pick from Miami was focused on being the best version of himself.

“That’s just the way I always approached it,” said Johnson. “Yeah, of course, I would want to play with a Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Tom Brady. I think any receiver would, but that wasn’t the hand I was dealt. I had to make the best of what I was dealt. That’s what I tried to do.”

The 2023 class will be announced during the NFL Honors on Feb. 9 on NBC, Peacock (streaming), and NFL Network.

Texans legend Andre Johnson’s QBs are proof he should be in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Andre Johnson didn’t have great quarterbacks to work with in his Houston Texans career, which makes his career numbers even more impressive.

 

Wide receivers going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are as commonplace as drivers going at least 5 mph above the speed limit on any major Houston thoroughfare.

What makes Andre Johnson, who was announced this week as a finalist for the Hall of Fame, any different?

According to statistics compiled by Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar, Johnson didn’t have much to work with throughout his 12-season career with Houston from 2003-14.

While some of Johnson’s best years came with Matt Schaub under center, the two-time Pro Bowler and 2009 NFL passing champion had an average net yard per pass attempt of 6.62, ranking third-best among quarterbacks Johnson played with. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was around for 12 starts in Johnson’s last season with Houston, topped the list at 7.15.

David Carr, who was the Texans’ starter from 2002-06, had a 4.72 while the two were paired together.

Johnson’s first season as a first-team All-Pro was in 2008, a season when he led the league with 115 catches and 1,569 receiving yards. The former 2003 third overall pick didn’t benefit from having Schaub the entire season as the QB missed five games because of injury. Sage Rosenfels was throwing Johnson passes during that span, too.

Not to take anything away from former Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne, another modern-era finalist along with Johnson, but the former 2001 first-rounder from Miami had Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck throwing to him for 13 of his 14 seasons. In 2011, when Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky and Kerry Collins threw him the ball while an injured Manning sat out the season, he caught 75 passes for 960 yards and four touchdowns.

In a similarly quarterback-dysfunctional season for Johnson, 2013, he caught 109 passes for 1,407 yards and five touchdowns through 16 games.

The list of unspectacular and mediocre quarterbacks who Johnson thrived with makes his career stand out even more and should ensure him a spot in Canton among the game’s greats.

Texans legendary WR Andre Johnson named 2023 Pro Football of Fame finalist

Former Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson was named as a 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist.

Former Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson has been named as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2023.

The inaugural Texans Ring of Honor inductee is one of 15 modern-era finalists, which were announced Wednesday night.

Texans cofounder and senior chair Janice McNair congratulated Johnson on making it as a finalist.

“I’m so proud of him and everything he has accomplished on and off the field,” said McNair. “He is a shining example of a teammate, friend and father, and he’s already a Hall-of-Famer in my book.”

Chairman and CEO Cal McNair mentioned that he is “thrilled” for Johnson.

“He is a legend in every sense of the word, and I will always be grateful for his incredible contributions to our team and the impact he continues to have on our organization and the city of Houston,” McNair said. “From the day he became a Texan in 2003, he was the definition of a competitor on the field and a pillar in our community. We will continue to take every opportunity to celebrate Andre’s career and everything he has accomplished.”

Johnson, a former No. 3 overall pick in 2003 from Miami, played with Houston through the 2014 season. Johnson is the franchise’s all-time leader in career receptions (1,012), receiving yards (13,597), receiving touchdowns (64) and 100-yard games (51).

The four-time All-Pro also has multiple single-game records for the Texans, including most receptions (14), receiving yards (273) and receiving touchdowns (three) in a game. Johnson also set the single-season franchise record for receptions with 115 in 2008 and receiving yards with 1,598 in 2012.

Johnson also had a stretch of 133 straight games with a reception from Nov. 6, 2005 to Dec. 21, 2014 and scored 64 career touchdowns, ranking second-most in team history.

The Hall of Fame selection committee will reveal the 2023 class at the NFL Honors during the week leading up to Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona. While there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the committee’s ground rules stipulate that between four to eight new members will be selected annually. Every candidate has to receive at least 80% approval of the committee before being elected.

Johnson retired with the Texans in 2017, signing a one-day contract, after spending 2015 with the Indianapolis Colts and 2016 with the Tennessee Titans. Johnson was inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor on Nov. 19, 2017, against the Arizona Cardinals.

Can former Texans WR Andre Johnson get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Former Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Can the two-time NFL receptions leader get in?

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After 20 years, the Houston Texans may finally be able to have one of their own in Canton, Ohio.

No, Ed Reed doesn’t really count.

Former Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2022 class. Just as Johnson was the franchise’s first player to represent the team at the Pro Bowl following the 2004 season, he may be the first Texans player to represent the team in Canton.

For Johnson to get into the Hall of Fame, he will be going against stiff competition.

Taking a look at receivers alone, the finalists from 2021 who didn’t make it were Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt. The one thing they have that Johnson doesn’t is a Super Bowl ring. Wayne and Holt also enjoyed success in the postseason while Johnson has two wild-card playoff wins over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Anquan Boldin, another Super Bowl winner, and Steve Smith will be eligible in 2022 along with Johnson.

Johnson didn’t have a spurt of high production, like Hines Ward, whose Pro Bowl appearances all occurred from 2001-04. Johnson was a seven-time Pro Bowler, and his last appearance was in 2013, the year the Texans went 2-14. Even though the team was imploding around him, he kept playing at a high level. Johnson also earned his first-team All-Pro selections in 2008 and 2009, and was the NFL’s receptions leader in 2006 and 2008. The former 2003 first-round pick also was the league’s receiving yards leader in 2008 and 2009.

Johnson’s 1,062 receptions are 11th all-time, his 14,185 receiving yards also 11th, but his 70 receiving touchdowns are tied with Gary Collins for 46th all-time.

What Johnson needs is for an advocate in the voters’ meetings to make the case that no matter the quarterback, he always performed. Take a look at the fact Johnson got a Pro Bowl in 2004 when David Carr was quarterback, led the league in receptions and receiving yards in 2008 when Matt Schaub was injured, and then picked up another Pro Bowl in 2013 when Houston started Case Keenum for eight games at quarterback.

If the voters are going to evaluate the candidates based on team accomplishments, Johnson hasn’t got a chance. If the voters weigh it heavily towards individual effort, Johnson has a decent shot.

Former Texans QB Matt Schaub explains why Andre Johnson should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub outlined why he believes Andre Johnson should make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson is eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

The Texans’ former No. 3 overall pick from Miami had a productive and exemplary career with Houston, earning seven Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro selections, leading the NFL in catches twice, and also leading the league in receiving yards twice. Johnson is also the “Mr. Texan” of the franchise as the organization’s charter member of the Ring of Honor.

Although Johnson caught 1,062 passes for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns in his career, he faces stiff competition as the league expanded its rules to accommodate for a heavier emphasis on the passing game.

Nevertheless, former Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, who was Johnson’s teammate from 2007-13, knows that his former teammate’s work ethic was unquestioned, and that will earn him consideration as a first-ballot inductee.

“The thing obviously most people won’t know because they’re not between the fences when we’re at practice and into the offseason and everything is Andre’s work ethic is second to none,” Schaub told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] on April 23. “And I’ve been around a lot of good players, a lot of solid type players, top at their positions, and no one works as hard as he does.

“No one was willing to put in the time, stay after, ‘Hey, Dre, let’s get in a few more throws.’ ‘Hey, absolutely.’ Most guys say, ‘No, I’m good.’ He would be wanting to. He would be like, ‘Let’s get that route two more times from both sides of the field.’ He would want to do more. He wanted to be there working in May and OTAs.”

Because of how reliable Johnson was as the team’s No. 1 receiver, Schaub was able to count on the 6-3, 229-pound target on Sundays.

“He knows where I’m going to throw it, and you know where he’s going to be and how he’s going to get there,” said Schaub. “So, that’s just something that the outside world never saw because obviously closed practices, you don’t see those things.

“But that is the type of guy Andre Johnson is and was, and I think that in itself, along with the numbers and the production and what he meant to the Texans organization and the NFL for all his years, shoot, he’s first ballot in my book.”

Schaub was a beneficiary of Johnson’s playmaking. The former Atlanta Falcons 2004 third-round pick earned two two Pro Bowl selections and won the NFL passing title in 2009.