Houston Texans: Andre Johnson a worthy start to Ring of Honor
By Luke Sims
Former Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is the brightest star in the young team’s history and will make the perfect foundation piece for their Ring of Honor.
On Nov. 19, 2017, the Houston Texans will begin the tradition of honoring the best players to grace the franchise with the inclusion of Andre Johnson in the Ring of Honor, per Pro Football Talk. No player has been placed in the Ring of Honor yet, allowing Johnson to start as a foundation piece for a team that he carried for over a decade.
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In 12 seasons with the Texans, Johnson was often the lone offensive threat. He posted 1,012 receptions for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns during his tenure with Houston. He is 11th all-time in receiving yards and 11th all-time in receptions in his career. He also led the NFL in receptions twice (2006 and 2008), yards twice (2008 and 2009 when he topped 1500 both years), and receiving yards per game three times (2007, 2009 and 2010). His production led to seven Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections. To say that Johnson left a mark as a player would be an understatement.
And Johnson did it all without a consistent quarterback threat. Matt Schaub‘s seven seasons as the starter were the high point.
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That comes with the territory of being an expansion franchise, though. Johnson joined the Texans a season after they joined the NFL and was the face of the franchise for the next 12 seasons. From 2-14 to 12-4, Johnson was there through it all.
It isn’t every day that a team manages to find a player with the skills that Johnson possessed or the longevity to have such an outsized impact. The Texans struck gold in Johnson when they made him the third overall selection in 2003. The team immediately found a foundation on which to build.
Just as Johnson was the foundation for the Texans franchise in its early years, he will now be the foundation for the Ring of Honor in which the best of the best will be honored. He clawed his way to the NFL leader boards through grit and hard work and proved that anyone can reach the top no matter which team they play for. His franchise records (receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns) and nearly insurmountable for the next decade — even with DeAndre Hopkins tearing it up.
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Johnson signed a one-day contact in April to retire with the Texans, a team he helped create and mold. That move was an honor to his team and an honor to the fans. Now, he will be honored in return.