HOUSTON — It's the countdown to Canton for a Texans legend. Next week, Andre Johnson will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first Texans player to join.
How's Andre preparing?
Right now, he is just going with the flow, because when he arrives next week in Canton, Ohio, he's going to be pulled in so many different directions.
On Wednesday, Andre gave us a sneak peek at what to expect from his Hall of Fame speech, his main responsibility for this epic weekend.
RELATED: Watch the moment Longtime Texans WR Andre Johnson learned he was in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Andre admitted it was difficult to write.
"When I get up to speak, I just speak from my heart," he said. "I never really write things out, but it wasn't hard to write because, you know, I just kind of, you know, based it off YouTube, some people, you know, just kind of listen to some guys' speeches."
"Will be difficult to sit or stand in front of all those people and give a big speech, like probably one of the biggest speeches of your life," we asked.
"I don't know," he said. "I've never had to stand up and talk in front of that many people, so I'm just going to get up there and do my best and, you know, just tell my story."
You can see Jason Bristol's full interview with Andre Johnson here.
And what a story it is. He's one of the greatest wide receivers of all time, all while playing with a variety of quarterbacks, and recently saw his gold jacket for the first time. He said that was another moment when it started to feel real.
As for Hall of Fame weekend, Andre has the Hall of Fame game on August 1 featuring the Texans vs. the Bears. There's a fashion show, the Grand Parade and, of course, his induction ceremony. So what a week it will be and a weekend and we'll be there for it all.
Houston will be proud.
Jason Bristol is heading to Canton for Andre Johnson's Hall of Fame induction and the Texans Hall of Fame match-up with the Bears. Stay with KHOU 11 and KHOU.com for complete coverage!
When will Andre Johnson be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be August 3. Andre Johnson is being enshrined into the Hall along with Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, Devin Hester, Steve McMichael, Julius Peppers and Patrick Willis.
A Hall of Fame career
Andre Johnson spent 12 seasons with the Texans. He still holds several of the team’s records, including being the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and 100-yard games.
After the Texans, Johnson went on to play for Tennessee and Indianapolis. Houston signed him to a one-day contract to allow him to retire as a Texan.
Johnson became the first player to spend the bulk of his career with the Texans to make the Hall of Fame.
A first-round pick in Houston’s second season in 2003, Johnson led the league in receiving yards twice, was a two-time All-Pro and had seven 1,000-yard seasons despite spending most of his career without an elite quarterback.
Johnson is one of three members of the Houston Texans Ring of Honor. The other two are JJ Watt and the team’s late owner, Bob McNair.