Former Texans wideout Johnson gets second shot at Hall of Fame: 'A shining example of a teammate, friend and father'

Former Houston Texans wide receiver (WR) Andre Johnson was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday. 

A press release issued by the Texans said that it’s the second straight year the 41-year-old Johnson’s name has been considered for enshrinement.

Taken third overall out of Miami in 2003, Johnson emerged as the Texans’ first true superstar, amassing at least 1,000 yards through the air for much of his decade-long career in Houston despite a merry-go-round under center. 

According to the Football Reference website, Johnson hauled in 1,062 receptions for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns, with 1,012 catches; 13,597 yards and 64 scores amassed while in a Texans uniform. 

"I'm so proud of him and everything he has accomplished on and off the field,” Texans co-founder and senior chair Janice McNair said, per the team. “He is a shining example of a teammate, friend and father, and he's already a Hall of Famer in my book."

Chair and chief executive officer (CEO) Cal McNair said he’s “thrilled” Johnson has another shot at earning the prestigious gold jacket. 

"He is a legend in every sense of the word, and I will always be grateful for his incredible contributions to our team and the impact he continues to have on our organization and the City of Houston,” Cal McNair said in the release. 

Though Johnson left the Texans in 2014 for stints with division rivals Indianapolis and Tennessee, he eventually returned to the Bayou City more than half a decade ago to announce his retirement from the National Football League (NFL), according to an Associated Press (AP) story that was run by Houston CBS affiliate KHOU.

A seven-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-NFL selection and essentially the Texans’ record-holder in every receiving category, Johnson was the first person enshrined into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2017, the franchise said. 

Per the release, he served the Houston community through his Andre Johnson Foundation. 

Johnson will learn the night before Super Bowl LVII next month whether he’ll get the call to Canton, Ohio.