John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, is in his 48th year of covering the NFL in Houston, including 45 seasons at the Houston Chronicle.
Andre Johnson will never forget his extraordinary adventure in Canton, and neither will thousands of Houston fans who made the journey to Ohio to support his induction as the first Texan enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As always, Induction Weekend was a whirlwind of activity for the newest members of the Hall of Fame – the seven-member Class of 2024 – and no inductee had better representation than Johnson.
H-Town was well-represented in Canton, and nowhere was the fans' love for the franchise's first superstar more evident than at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday when Johnson was the last to make his acceptance speech. Neither rain, thunder, wind or lightning that delayed the start of the ceremony for more than two hours could dampen Texans' fans enthusiasm for watching Johnson be recognized as one of the greatest players in pro football history.
It was a monumental weekend for Johnson, his family, friends, former coaches and teammates, and, of course, members of the Texans' organization. The McNairs honored Johnson with a post-induction reception at the Hall of Fame before the decibel level was cranked up a few notches at a separate downtown Havana Nights extravaganza that lasted into the early-morning hours. There were wall-to-wall tributes fit for a king, and on the most important day of his life, Johnson was King for a Day.
There was no shortage of exhilarating, inspiring, and emotional moments for Johnson on his trip to Canton, and he both deserved them and received them with humility and joy.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, just about every jet going from Houston to Cleveland was packed with Texans' fans. On my Thursday morning flight, the United pilot welcomed the fans, praised Johnson and the Texans and singled out a flight from the previous day. While Johnson was flying in first class, the Texans' cheerleaders were in coach passing out Texans' memorabilia and spreading good will to fans making the trip to Induction Weekend.
Once the inductees arrived in Cleveland, they were transported to Canton, where the festivities began. They were treated like royalty, beginning with having a chauffeur take them anywhere they wanted to go, including to every event. They had media interviews, autograph sessions, a parade, luncheons and dinners through the weekend before their official inductions were scheduled to begin on Saturday at noon.
On Thursday, Johnson, Julius Peppers, Devin Hester, Dwight Freeney, Patrick Willis, Randy Gradishar and Steve McMichael – represented by his wife, Misty, because he's suffering from ALS – were introduced at the Texans-Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.
The Bears won 21-17 in a game stopped in the third quarter because of horrendous weather that would continue to plague the celebrations throughout the weekend.
Friday was an incredible day for Johnson and the Class of 2024. They attended the Ray Nitschke Memorial Luncheon at a local country club that's now hosted by Warren Moon. The Oilers were well-represented in Canton with Moon, Elvin Bethea, Robert Brazile, Bruce Matthews and Ken Houston.
The annual luncheon is an initiation for the new members. They have to remain silent while a group of Hall of Famers is selected to talk to them about what their enshrinement is going to mean to them and their families, the Hall of Fame and the NFL. Johnson heard multiple times how he's on a team "that can't trade or release him" and will "always be loyal to him." The new members are encouraged to always make the trip back to Canton for the most special weekend of the year.
For my money, the Friday night Gold Jacket Dinner at the Canton Civic Center is the most memorable event of them all because Johnson and his fellow inductees got to put on their Gold Jackets for the first time.
Rich Eisen of the NFL Network was the master of ceremonies. Former quarterback Dan Fouts introduced returning members of the Hall of Fame, who walked across the stage to thunderous ovations.
Thousands of fans attend the Gold Jacket Dinner. When Johnson walked through the ground-level entrance, he was greeted by a maze of Gold Jacket-clad Hall of Famers clapping for him, high-fiving him and hugging him while he made his way up the ramp and onto the stage. Strobe lights flashed, and Hall of Fame music blared. Johnson's family, friends and fans were cheering and taking videos.
Unlike previous years when new members were joined on the stage by their presenters, the Hall executives have the inductees select another member of the Hall of Fame to participate in the ceremony with Commissioner Roger Goodell and Hall of Fame President Jim Porter. Johnson chose Michael Irvin, another Miami native who's also one of the greatest receivers in history.
After Goodell, Porter and Irvin helped Johnson remove his suit coat, they helped him put on his Gold Jacket for the first time. Then they stepped away and allowed Johnson to soak up the atmosphere. After a couple of minutes, Johnson's family joined him on stage to join in his celebration. Needless to say, Johnson shed a few tears during the weekend, especially Friday night and Saturday during his acceptance speech.
Johnson's Saturday morning began bright and early with the annual parade through the streets of Canton. Despite forecasts of terrible weather, fans packed the streets, parking garage and rooftops. Johnson and his presenter, former coach Gary Kubiak, rode together in their convertible as they were chauffeured through the downtown area for thousands of cheering fans.
The weather was a problem that intensified after the parade. Fans couldn't be allowed into Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium because of torrential rain and dangerous lightning. Finally, the dark clouds started to clear, and fans were allowed into the stadium. More than two hours after the scheduled start, Freeney was the first inductee to be presented and have his bronze bust uncovered for fans watching in the stadium as well as on the NFL Network and ESPN.
Johnson was the last to speak, and rain-soaked Texans' fans hung on every word. Kubiak did an outstanding job presenting Johnson, and Houston fans cheered wildly. When Johnson began his 1,600-word speech that inspired and captivated them, their ovation became so loud at times he could hardly be heard over the PA system. He gave a well-thought-out, emotional, moving speech.
"Today marks a very special moment for me, my family and so many other people who had an impact on me throughout my football journey," Johnson said. "Every single moment of the weekend has been special."
Johnson talked about growing up in Miami and dreaming of playing for the University of Miami.
"Playing at The U was a dream come true for me," he said. "I always wanted to be a Hurricane. Everybody cheered for the Hurricanes. The U was where I was given the blueprint of what it was to be a professional. I had never been surrounded by so much talent."
Johnson thanked teammates, coaches and others who helped him along the way. He thanked his mother, Karen, and his daughter (Kylie), brother (Willie) and sister (April). He also talked about his late uncle, Andre, who moved to Houston with him in 2003 when he was the third overall pick in the draft and welcomed family support as he adjusted to a new home.
"I would like to thank the McNair family for taking a chance on a young man from Miami and helping me to live out my dream," he said. "I would also like to thank Charley Casserly for drafting me. Coming to an expansion team, I really didn't know what to expect. I can't lie – it was hard, and it was tough. But we fought week after week trying to get over that hump. There was no overnight success. It took years for us to get our team to where we wanted it to be.
"There is no greater feeling than running out of the tunnel on that Saturday night in January of 2012 against Cincinnati for our first playoff game in team history."
With Kubiak as their coach in 2011, Johnson helped the Texans win the AFC South for the first time and defeat the Bengals in the wild card game at NRG Stadium. It was their first playoff victory.
"I shared the field with some great guys in Houston," Johnson said, acknowledging many of them who had joined him Canton. "You guys were not only my teammates, you were my brothers. The relationships we have built over the years have truly been amazing.
"In addition to my teammates, I want to thank my coaches, trainers, equipment managers and the weight room staff. All of you played a part in this journey. To the current Houston Texans players that are here today, I pray you get to experience a brotherhood like I have with my teammates."
When Johnson got to thanking Texans' fans, they cheered so loudly he was hard to hear at certain points.
"To the Texans fans and the city of Houston, words cannot describe the love you guys have and continue to have for me," he said. "We have created some great memories, and I cannot thank you guys enough for the way you have supported me — No. 80. I am truly honored to be your first Hall of Famer. This accomplishment is not just about me – it's about us."
When Johnson talked about his mother, that's when he got really emotional. Karen brought him up in a single-parent home and showed him some tough love when he needed it.
"To my mother – thank you!" he said. "All of your hard work, sacrifice and dedication never went unnoticed. I remember as a little kid, around the age of 9, telling you that I would make it to the NFL, and you would never have to work again.
"I know at the time, hearing that was a little far-fetched. But look at us now! No matter the situation or the circumstance, I always knew if it was one person that would be cheering me on, it would be you. From the age of 6 until I retired at 35, you never missed a game. Your efforts in raising me and my brother have always been on a Hall of Fame level, and today, mom, you're going into the Hall of Fame. This belongs to you."
It was interesting that the teleprompter broke near the end of his speech, nobody watching or listening could tell it. Johnson looked at Kubiak sitting close by on the stage and got a "you-can-do-this nod" and Johnson was able to finish, well, like a Hall of Famer.
"I dreamed about making it to the NFL," Johnson said. "As a little kid playing football in the streets of Carol City, in the hallways of school and wherever else we could run a play, it was the ultimate goal. But not even in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be in Canton looking at a bronze statue of me that'll be placed in a gallery with some of the greatest people to ever play this game.
"To the other 377 men who wear this Gold Jacket, I'm humbled, honored and happy as hell to join you in the Pro Football Hall of Fame."
When Johnson finished his speech in sunshine, the induction ceremony ended. He stayed on the stage a while getting congratulatory handshakes and high-fives from the Hall of Fame members who had returned to Canton. Then it was off to his reception for another news conference and celebration. Then, finally, Johnson was able to take a deep breath, blow it out, regain some energy and head to Havana Nights event because it was finally time for the Texans' first superstar to party hearty.
