Houston, TX — Drafted third overall in 2003, Andre Johnson emerged as one of the most dominant wide receivers the league ever saw. Over 12 seasons with the Texans, he racked up 1,012 receptions, 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns, earned seven Pro Bowl selections, two All-Pro honors and guided his team into the playoffs multiple times. His induction into the Texans Ring of Honor in 2017 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024 solidified his place among the sport’s elite.
Yet Johnson’s impact stretched far beyond the gridiron. Through the Andre Johnson Foundation, he supported children’s health, youth education and underserved communities. In recent years his foundation raised millions to provide scholarships, fund medical treatment and organize major toy drives and events for kids in need. Fans embraced his humility, his generosity and his commitment to giving back.
That legacy faced a serious threat when a partner charity misappropriated funds that were intended for children’s education and health programs tied to Johnson’s name. Donations raised in his honor were diverted to administrative misuse, inflated salaries and unrelated expenses. Johnson refused to stand by while vulnerable families and future generations were impacted.
Independent auditors uncovered that less than 40 percent of the funds reached their intended beneficiaries — far below the promised majority. More than seven hundred thousand dollars were found misdirected. Johnson filed suit for misappropriation of charitable funds and breach of fiduciary responsibility, determined to hold the wrongdoers accountable and preserve the mission he built.
The Houston Texans organization backed Johnson through the full legal process — assisting with documentation, coordinating records and making clear their commitment to protecting one of their own. Their message was unmistakable: Legends are more than athletes — they are guardians of this community.
A court ruled emphatically in Johnson’s favor. The offending charity must repay over $2 million in restitution, its leadership barred from nonprofit involvement for at least ten years, and all remaining funds immediately redirected to children and youth programs in Texas.
Johnson declined personal compensation. Every dollar recovered will fund scholarships, children’s hospitals and outreach initiatives — the same causes his foundation championed long before his name was immortalized in the Hall of Fame.
With a career that included 1,012 catches, 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns in crimson and white, Andre Johnson achieved greatness on the field. Now, his most enduring legacy might be the lives he helps rebuild off it.
Houston celebrates more than a legal win tonight. It celebrates a protector who never ended his game when the whistle blew. Andre Johnson remains a legend — forever in the stands, forever in the hearts of Texans fans, forever putting community first.
