The Houston Texans had a huge night during Thursday’s pre-Super Bowl awards festivities in Las Vegas.
The NFL Honors ceremony started with quarterback C.J. Stroud and pass rusher Will Anderson, Jr. both taking home NFL Rookie of the Year awards offensively and defensively, respectively. But the biggest moment of the evening came when former star receiver Andre Johnson was admitted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first Texans player in franchise history to be bestowed with the honor.
Johnson will be headed for enshrinement after a stellar 14-year career in which he caught 1,062 passes for 14,185 yards and 70 receiving touchdowns. Johnson, who was selected third overall by the Texans, made seven Pro Bowls was a two-time First-Team All-Pro.
“Being selected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame means everything to me,” said Johnson, who spent the first 12 years of his career with the Texans and started all 169 games he appeared in. “I couldn’t have made it here without the support from my teammates, coaches, family and friends. When I first entered the NFL, I never thought about the idea of becoming a Pro Football Hall of Famer one day. I just wanted to be known as one of the best players to ever play the game, but now I get to go to football heaven, where I can enjoy the ultimate closure to my career. To the city of Houston, the Houston Texans organization and the fan base, thank you for embracing me and always showing me and my family love and support. I am so honored to be the first Texan to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and can’t wait to continue to represent this organization as they continue their success.”
His enshrinement, which will culminate with the NFL’s preseason kickoff in Canton, Ohio this summer, is also huge for the Texans’ franchise, as well.
“I’m so proud of Andre, who has always been a Hall of Fame person, friend, father and son in our eyes,” Texans Co-Founder and Senior Chair Janice McNair said. “Andre was a once-in-a-generation player who is at the heart of some of the most memorable moments in our team’s history, including his induction as the inaugural member of the Texans Ring of Honor. We are honored to have been a part of his journey and I know Bob would be overjoyed Andre is receiving this special, well-deserved recognition.”
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving to be the Texans’ first Hall of Fame inductee than Andre Johnson,” Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair said. “Every time he took the field, we knew he was bringing an incomparable passion and intensity that was a joy to watch. His impact across our community is immeasurable and we are thrilled he has secured his rightful place in NFL history forever. Andre will always be a Texan and now, he is officially a Hall of Famer.”
Earlier in the night, Stroud and Anderson both were named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
It had been anticipated since early in the 2023 season that Stroud, the Texans No. 2 overall pick in last spring’s NFL Draft, would be the runaway choice for offensive rookie of the year. The 22-year Ohio State product, garnered 48 of 50 first-place votes over the Rams’ Puka Nacua to become the Texans first NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honoree.
Anderson, who was drafted just behind Stroud at No.3 out of Alabama, earned 16 first-place votes, edging Jalen Carter and Kobie Turner, who each had 14 first-place votes. Anderson joins Brian Cushing and his now head coach DeMeco Ryans as Texans who won the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
The only downside of the night for the Texas was that Ryans fell just short of the Cleveland Browns Kevin Stefanski for NFL Coach of the Year honors. It was always going to be close between the two, and Stefanski pulled it out by one first-place vote.
Ryans, of course, turned a 3-win Texans team into a 10-win team that won that AFC South and advanced to the second-round of the playoffs in his first season as head coach.
