After a long and fruitful career, Andre Johnson has announced his retirement.
The former University of Miami product will likely go down as one of the most under-appreciated players in the history of the game. While he is retiring as a member of the Tennessee Titans, he is known for his time with the Houston Texans. The Texans were never fully able to utilize him properly, giving him different quarterbacks seemingly every year. That never seemed to deter him, as year in and year out, he was quietly one of the best.
He ended his career with seven Pro Bowl appearances, while also ranking ninth all-time in receptions with 1,062 and tenth all-time in receiving yards with 14,185. During a time when retirement tours became the norm, Johnson is exiting quietly, which is very much his way.
One of the most memorable moments in his career was his showdown with Cortland Finnegan. Both were in their prime, and went at it every time that they were out on the field – especially on this occasion.
He wasn’t ever someone who showboated on the field, but could shut a cornerback up in more ways than one.
Not to be forgotten, he was known to put up monster games that other players just simply couldn’t keep up with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbtHYptJQjI
He did all of this without playing with a quarterback that stuck around in the league for more than a few years. Matt Schaub, TJ Yates, and the list just goes on from there. He made the quarterback – they never made him. He masked a lot of their issues early on and as he jumped to the Colts and Titans, he was never able to find the right rhythm he had in Houston.
He will without a doubt be a Hall of Famer, though not many will realize how prolific he was during his time with the team. The legacy he leaves will be felt for years to come, as he, along with a few others, have made the modern wide receiver what it is today.
