"Once I put those shoulder pads on...it was like I was going to war.” Andre Johnson

From The U to NFL Hall of Fame, on this episode of The Pivot Podcast, Ryan, Fred, and Channing sit down with seven-time Pro Bowler, one of the best wide receivers to play the game, the heart and soul of Houston Texans franchise: Andre Johnson.

As the Texans chase another AFC South title, Andre, who's still a big part of the organization today, takes us back to the beginning of his journey during expansion years and how he became the face of the franchise. From his early days as a young star at "The U" to dominating the NFL on Sundays, Andre shares what fueled his drive to make the Texans a team people respected. He opens up about his mindset on the field, where putting on those shoulder pads felt like preparing for war, and why he was so determined to make the city of Houston proud every single season. 

The conversation gets personal as Andre reflects on his upbringing and how his strained relationship with his late father shaped the man-and father- he is today. He gets deep about the difficult choice he made to ultimately walk away from the game of football- a decision the guys understand all too well- but how he knew it was the right time because his mind was not in it anymore. Ryan has some jokes pretending to get a call from an old foe, as the guys reminisce his famous scuffle with Cortland Finnegan, which he says fans bring up to him everywhere he goes. While it's not his favorite topic, Andre shares what was really going through his head that day. 

Getting his take on the current Texans team, the guys ask what it'll take to bring a championship mentality back to Houston and what kind of receiving yards he would have racked up with a quarterback like CJ Stroud under center. Andre weighs in on some big names, past present and future playmakers of the league like Antonio Brown, whose talent he admired despite the controversies, AJ Brown's frustrations and Travis Hunter, the young college star who's doing things you rarely see in this generation. And what's next for the Hall of Famer? Will we see him on the sidelines coaching? He's not quite there yet, though he admits it'll be on the horizon someday. 

Andre's story is all about work ethic and legacy. Whether he's talking about the pride he takes in the Texans, the struggles of his short time with the Colts, or the mental toughness he adopted to make his game look effortless, and all his focus on off-the field ventures helping community and how giving back has helped him in more ways then he can share. With the holidays around the corner, never be too busy to take time to help others, you never know how a little help goes a long way. Don't miss our latest conversation, tap in now and don't forget to hit the Subscribe button!

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