One of the best wide receivers in NFL history is calling it quits.
According to several reports, receiver Andre Johnson of the Tennessee Titans will retire from the NFL on Monday.
Kennedy McGuire (right) and brother Kennard salute one of the greatest WRs in history, Andre Johnson, who could retire from Titans today. pic.twitter.com/dQ7RaaLaOo
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) October 31, 2016
Titans WR Andre Johnson is retiring today, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2016
#Titans WR Andre Johnson is, in fact, retiring today. Great career. https://t.co/6tvUCCHnAl
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2016
Titans general manager Jon Robinson released a statement regarding Johnson's retirement:
"Going back to his days at the University of Miami, Andre was one of the most impressive wide receivers I've scouted. He had a professional approach to the game both on and off the field and in my opinion is one of the best to have played the great game. I enjoyed getting to know and work with him in his time with our team. He certainly contributed to this team -- making the game-winning catch at Detroit and his daily interaction with the young wide receivers. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward in whatever endeavors he chooses."
Johnson, who entered the NFL out of Miami as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 draft, spent the first 12 years of his career with the Houston Texans before playing with the Indianapolis Colts last season and the Titans this year.
In 14 seasons, he racked up 1,062 catches for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns. Those figures rank ninth, 10th, and 33rd in NFL history. Since Johnson entered the league in 2003, only Larry Fitzgerald caught more passes, nobody racked up more receiving yards and only 11 players caught more touchdowns. He is one of just three players with five-plus 100-catch seasons and one of three with three-plus 1,500-yard seasons.
He's a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time first-team All-Pro and a likely future Hall of Famer. And the most amazing part of his career might have been that he accomplished all of this while mostly playing for the Texans. It's not that the Texans are some sort of historically bad organization; it's just that the list of passers Johnson spent his career with is about as uninspiring as it gets.
He caught passes in a Texans uniform from Matt Schaub, David Carr, Sage Rosenfels, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, T.J. Yates, Tony Banks, Ryan Mallett, Dave Ragone and Jake Delhomme. Compare that to the situation of his former Miami teammate Reggie Wayne (who Johnson sits just eight catches behind on the all-time list), who had the fortune of spending most of his career with Peyton Manning, and the tail end of it with Andrew Luck.
To put up the numbers he did for as long as he did while working in that environment is incredible. If this is really it for Dre, well, it's been a great ride.