Texans legend Andre Johnson’s QBs is proof alone he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Andre Johnson’s quarterbacks from 2003-2014. I can’t even, man. pic.twitter.com/P8Ydy0qzI9

— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 5, 2023

Receivers going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are as common place as drivers going at least five miles above the speed limit on any major Houston thoroughfare.

What makes inaugural Texans Ring of Honor inductee Andre Johnson any different?

According to statistics compiled by the Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar, Johnson didn’t have much to work with throughout his 12-season career with Houston from 2003-14.

While some of Johnson’s best years came with Matt Schaub under center, the two-time Pro Bowler and 2009 NFL passing champion had an average net yard per pass attempt of 6.62, ranking third-best among quarterbacks Johnson played with. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was around for 12 starts in Johnson’s last season with Houston, topped the list at 7.15.

David Carr, who was the Texans’ starter from 2002-06, had a 4.72 while the two were paired together.

Johnson’s first season as a first-team All-Pro was in 2008, a season wherein he also led the league with 115 catches and 1,569 receiving yards. The former 2003 third overall pick didn’t benefit from having Schaub the entire season as he missed five games due to injury. Sage Rosenfels was throwing Johnson passes during that span, too.

Not to take anything away from former Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne, another modern-era finalist along with Johnson, but the former 2001 first-rounder from Miami had Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck throwing to him for 13 of his 14 seasons. In 2011, when Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky, and Kerry Collins were throwing him the ball, he caught 75 for 960 and four touchdowns through 16 games.

In a similarly quarterback-dysfunctional season for Johnson, 2013, the former Miami product caught 109 passes for 1,407 yards and five touchdowns through 16 games.