Texans Legend Andre Johnson Named To 2024 Hall Of Fame Class
LAS VEGAS -- And the wait is finally over.
Andre Johnson, the Houston Texans' all-time leading receiver, was officially named a member of the NFL’s 2024 Hall of Fame class during Thursday’s NFL Honors in Las Vegas, becoming the first member in franchise history inducted.
Those joining Johnson in Canto, Ohio include receiver Torry Holt, defensive end Julius Peppers, linebacker Patrick Willis, defensive end Dwight Freeney, defensive tackle Steve McMichael, linebacker Randy Grandishar and return man Devin Hester.
The induction ceremony will take place Aug. 3 in Canton.
Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson jumps into the crowd after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium.
© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson, who was on the Hall of Fame ballot for the third time, always had the numbers. After being No. 3 overall by Houston in 2003 out of Miami, he’d go on to set every Texans receiver record in 12 seasons with the franchise.
Johnson is 11th all-time NFL history in both receiving yards (14,185) and catches (1,062). He's tied for 51st with 70 TD catches and was a four-time All-Pro selection.
Consistency was Johnson's bread-and-butter in the AFC South over his 14-year career with the Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. He's one of three players to lead the NFL in receiving yards in consecutive seasons during the Super Bowl era.
The other two? Jerry Rice and Calvin Johnson, two first-ballot Hall of Famers and franchise cornerstones for their respective teams during the 1980s and 2000s. Johnson also posted five 100-reception years and seven 1,000-yard years during his time in Houston, a record that has yet to be broken by another Texans player.
Entering Thursday, the only players with more receiving yards than Johnson not immortalized by voters to the Hall were fellow HOF finalist Reggie Wayne, semifinalist Steve Smith Sr., and Larry Fitzgerald, who is not eligible yet to be on the ballot.
Johnson's five 100-catch seasons are more than players like Rice, Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Marvin Harrison. His three 1,500-yard seasons are also tied with Harrison and only one fewer than Rice.
And Johnson wasn't afraid to get physical, making him one of the most feared players of his generation. The 6-3, 230-pound playmaker went viral back in 2010 after fighting Titans cornerback Courtland Finnegan during the fourth quarter of a 20-0 blowout.
Johnson never made it past the semifinalist list in his first two stints on the ballot by the Hall of Fame’s 50-member selection committee
During his time at NRG Stadium, Johnson never played with a Hall of Fame quarterback. Rather than catching passes with Peyton Manning. Kurt Warner or Tom Brady, Johnson was hauling in touchdown grabs from names like David Carr, Tony Banks, Dave Ragone, Matt Schaub, Case Keenum, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ryan Mallett.
As the first member of the Texans' Ring of Honor in 2017, Johnson has been the face of Houston sports in the area for decades.
Now, he'll forever be remembered among the greats in league history.
