Johnson falls short on 2nd ballot
In his second year on the ballot, former Texans star wide receiver Andre Johnson was not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Johnson has been among the 15 modern-era finalists in both years he’s been eligible for election, but has not made it from the last 10 to the final five.
This year’s induction class included five modern-era electees: offensive tackle Joe Thomas, cornerbacks Ronde Barber and Darrelle Revis, edge rusher DeMarcus Ware and linebacker Zach Thomas. Linebacker Chuck Howley, defensive lineman Joe Klecko and cornerback Ken Riley were elected in the seniors category while Don Coryell was voted in the coach/contributor category. Their selections were announced on Thursday’s “NFL Honors” awards show.
The other finalists were cornerback Albert Lewis, safety Darren Woodson, linebacker Patrick Willis, offensive tackle Willie Anderson, wide receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, defensive ends Jared Allen and Dwight Freeney, and kick returner Devin Hester.
Johnson, 41, was the third overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft out of Miami. He was the first star player for the Texans after they joined the league in 2002, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and a pair of first team All-Pro nods.
Johnson’s 1,062 receptions and 14,185 receiving yards both rank 11th in NFL history, and he finished with 70 touchdowns, tied for 49th alltime. Johnson played 14 NFL seasons, with the first 12 in Houston. He finished with single seasons in Indianapolis and Tennessee.
In 2017, Johnson became the first — and only player to date — inducted into the Texans’ Ring of Honor at NRG Stadium.
No player who played the bulk of his career with the Texans has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Safety Ed Reed, who spent part of the 2013 season with the Texans, and tackle Tony Boselli, the Texans’ first pick in the 2002 expansion draft who never played for the team because of injury, have been inducted in recent years.
Defensive end J.J. Watt, who retired last month and starred for the Texans for 10 seasons, is expected to be a shoo-in for election when he’s eligible in 2028.
The only question now is whether Johnson will beat him to enshrinement in Canton, Ohio.