Andre Johnson Hall of Fame Career

Lore & Background

Johnson was born in Miami, on July 11, 1981. He attended Miami Senior High School, where he graduated in 1999. He played high school football and was rated as one of the top prospects in the country. As a senior, Johnson caught 32 passes for 931 yards and was named a Parade All-American. He enrolled at the University of Miami, where he was a standout wide receiver on the Miami Hurricanes football team from 2000 to 2003. He was co-MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl, in which the Hurricanes defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers by a score of 37–14 to cap an undefeated season and their fifth national championship. In that game, Johnson connected with quarterback Ken Dorsey for two touchdowns and 199 yards. Johnson finished his college career catching 92 passes for 1,831 yards (19.9-yard average) and 20 touchdowns. His 1,831 receiving yards is ranked fifth on the University of Miami's all-time career list. Johnson was inducted into the Miami Sports Hall of Fame on April 10, 2014, at a ceremony in Miami. As a University of Miami player, Johnson also ran for the Hurricanes track and field team. In 2002, he won the Big East 60-meter dash with a time of 6.81 seconds at the Big East Indoor Championship and followed that up by winning the 100-meter dash with a career-best time of 10.59 seconds at the Big East Outdoor Championships. He won the 200-meter dash at the 2003 GMAC Championships with a career-best time of 21.48 seconds. Also a top competitor in the 400 meters, he ran a career-best time of 46.47 seconds in the finals of the 2003 FHSAA Class 3A Championships.

Reader's Guide

Johnson was selected in the first round with the third overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft by the Houston Texans. He severed ties with NFL agents Michael Huyghue and Jeff Moorad before hiring sports attorney Don West Jr. to negotiate his rookie contract with the Texans. Johnson was signed to a six-year, $39 million contract and was able to start training camp on time due to a timely contract negotiation. His rookie contract included over $13.501 million in guaranteed compensation. In Johnson's rookie season, he started and played in all 16 games, recording 66 receptions for 976 yards and four touchdowns for the 5–11 Texans. He had three games going over the 100-yard mark on the year, one of which was his first NFL multi-touchdown game in week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 42–14 loss. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. Johnson's breakout year came in 2004 when he combined with Texans quarterback David Carr to record 79 catches for 1,142 yards and six touchdowns in the Texans 7–9 season. He had four games going over the 100-yard mark, including a 170-yard, two-touchdown day against the Minnesota Vikings in week 5. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl in recognition of his successful season. In week 12 of 2005, Johnson had 12 receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams in a 33–27 loss. In week 16, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had seven receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown in a 38–20 loss. Johnson played in 13 games due to injury and had 63 receptions with 688 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans finished a franchise-worst 2–14. When interviewed in 2012, Johnson said that he was frustrated with the team's struggles, even saying that at times he 'didn't want to get up and go to work', but knew that with a new franchise, struggles were expected and he wanted to be there to see the team make the next step. Johnson returned from injury in 2006 and started all 16 games. In week 3, against Washington, he had 11 receptions for 152 yards in a 31–15 loss. In week 4, against the Miami Dolphins, he earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week with nine receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in a 17–15 victory. He led the NFL in receptions with 103 and finished with 1,147 yards and five touchdowns in the Texans 6–10 season. He made his second Pro Bowl appearance.

Did You Know?

• Andre Johnson played his first 12 years with the Houston Texans, not 13. He played his final season (2015) with the Indianapolis Colts.
• Johnson was drafted in 2003, the Texans' second draft class. The Texans entered the NFL as an expansion team in 2002 and had their first draft that year, selecting David Carr 1st overall.