Billy "White Shoes" Johnson facts for kids
Johnson in 2021
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| No. 84, 81, 88 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver, Return specialist |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | January 27, 1952 Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Chichester (Boothwyn, Pennsylvania) |
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| College: | Widener (1971–1973) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1974 / Round: 15 / Pick: 365 | ||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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William Arthur Johnson (born January 27, 1952), known by his famous nickname Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, is a former American football player. He played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1988 as a wide receiver and a return specialist.
Johnson was famous for his exciting playing style and for being one of the first players to do fun, creative dances in the end zone after scoring a touchdown. He is considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history and was chosen for the NFL's 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
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The Story of "White Shoes"
Johnson grew up in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, and went to high school in the Chichester School District. He got his nickname, "White Shoes," because he dyed his football cleats white as part of a dare from a friend. The name stuck with him for his entire career.
Even though he was a smaller player at 5'9" and 170 pounds, Johnson was a star athlete at Widener University, a small college in Pennsylvania. His amazing talent got him noticed, and he was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 1974 NFL draft.
An NFL Star is Born
The Houston Oilers and the "Funky Chicken"
When Johnson joined the Houston Oilers, he immediately became a star as a kick and punt returner. He was known for his incredible speed and ability to dodge defenders.
As a rookie, he started celebrating his touchdowns with a dance he called the "Funky Chicken." This dance, inspired by a song from singer Rufus Thomas, was one of the very first touchdown celebrations in the NFL. Fans loved it, and it made him a very popular player.
In his first four years with the Oilers, Johnson was a scoring machine. He returned five punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns. He was so good that he was chosen for the Pro Bowl (the NFL's all-star game) in 1975 and was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP). In that game, he returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown. He made the Pro Bowl again in 1977.
Sadly, a knee injury in 1979 slowed him down. He missed most of the next two seasons and was never quite the same explosive returner again.
A Comeback with the Falcons
After playing one season in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Montreal Alouettes, Johnson returned to the NFL in 1982 with the Atlanta Falcons.
In 1983, he had an amazing comeback season. He was both a starting wide receiver and the team's main kick returner. He led the Falcons in catches and scored his sixth career punt return touchdown. His great performance earned him his third trip to the Pro Bowl.
Later in his career, the NFL made a new rule against "excessive celebration," which meant Johnson had to stop doing his famous end-zone dances. He continued to be a key player for the Falcons, leading them in receiving in 1985. After a few more seasons, he retired in 1987, but came back to play one final game for the Washington Redskins in 1988.
Life After Football
After his playing days were over, Billy Johnson stayed involved with sports. He became an assistant football coach at Duluth High School in Duluth, Georgia, helping to teach young players the game.
He also showed his athletic talent in other sports. In 1978, while still an NFL player, he played professional softball for the Philadelphia Athletics. He was also a star sprinter and competed in masters track and field events after retiring from football.
Honors and Legacy
Billy "White Shoes" Johnson is remembered as a true game-changer. His skill as a returner and his fun-loving personality made him a legend.
- In 1994, he was named the punt returner on the prestigious NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
- He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
- In 2018, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
- He was also selected for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
- On December 17, 2023, he was inducted into the Tennessee Titans Ring of Honor (the team was formerly the Houston Oilers).
Johnson is the only player selected for the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team who is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
