‘One of the best to ever play’
Johnson catches loads of accolades after ending stellar career
Andre Johnson’s retirement eight games into his 14th season caught a lot of Texans by surprise but did not keep them from praising their former receiver for his magnificent career.
Johnson, 35, told Tennessee coaches and teammates Monday that he was retiring after catching nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in his only season with the Titans.
Johnson, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection in his 12year career with the Texans, was the third overall pick in the 2003 draft, selected by Charley Casserly, the first Texans general manager.
In his 14 seasons, Johnson caught 1,062 passes for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns.
He ranks ninth on the NFL’s all-time list for catches and 10th for yards.
“I’d love to see Andre in the Hall of Fame,” owner Bob McNair said. “That would be terrific. I think he deserves to be there. It would be a reflection on what we’ve done with our franchise in that we’ve produced a player who was of that quality.
“Andre was a star for us. He was the offensive leader from 2003 to 2014, certainly over that period of time he was our top player.”
Johnson had five seasons
with at least 100 catches and seven with at least 1,100 yards.
“He was the personification of professionalism,” general manager Rick Smith said. “He set a great example for young players — how to work, study and practice. He was the consummate pro.”
Johnson’s last season with the Texans was 2014 when he caught 85 passes for 936 yards and three touchdowns in Bill O’Brien’s first season as coach.
“I’ve had the good fortune of coaching some potential Hall of Fame receivers in him and Randy Moss (at New England),” O’Brien said. “Been up close and personal with those guys coaching them, and Andre will go down as one of the best to ever play.
“On the field, it’s obvious what he did for the Texans. The numbers speak for themselves.”
O’Brien saw a side of Johnson that few see unless they worked with him or benefited from his generosity, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“I had him later in his career, but what I saw off the field was all the things he did for the children of this city,” O’Brien said. “I think people are really important to him.
“I think he meant a lot to this city.”
Johnson’s most impressive season was 2012 when he helped the Texans finish 12-4 and win the AFC South.
That season, he had 112 receptions for 1,598 yards.
Johnson’s retirement came one week after another former Texans great, running back Arian Foster, retired from the Miami Dolphins.
Johnson, who was not available Monday, and Foster had their best seasons under coach Gary Kubiak.
Kubiak helped turn Johnson and quarterback Matt Schaub into one of the most prolific pass-catch combinations in the NFL.
“When it comes to a combination of people and players, Andre’s one of the finest I’ve known,” Kubiak said in Denver. “He was a great player who put up some ridiculous numbers when I was with him.
“Andre was drafted by a start-up franchise and unselfishly gave Houston everything he possibly had throughout his career. A lot of guys might have tried to run somewhere else or do something different, but Andre didn’t do that.
“I have the utmost respect for Andre. I wish him the very best.”
Johnson’s agent, Kennard McGuire, negotiated contracts that made more than $100 million for the receiver.
“As an athlete he was rare, a Picasso,” McGuire said. “As a human being, he was unselfish, caring, loyal and a private humanitarian. He embodied simply doing things the right way.”
Titans general manager Jon Robinson watched Johnson from afar during his 12 years in New England’s personnel department before signing him for this season.
“Going back to his days at the University of Miami, Andre was one of the most impressive wide receivers I’ve scouted,” Robinson said. “He had a professional approach to the game both on and off the field, and in my opinion, is one of the best to have played the game.”