 Johnson in 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 84, 81, 88 | |||||||||||||||
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| Positions | Wide receiver, Return specialist | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1952-01-27)January 27, 1952 (age 74) Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Chichester (Boothwyn, Pennsylvania) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Widener (1971–1973) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1974: 15th round, 365th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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William Arthur Johnson (born January 27, 1952), better known asBilly "White Shoes"Johnson, is an American former professionalfootball player who was awide receiver andreturn specialist in theNational Football League (NFL) from 1974 through 1988. A75th and100th Anniversary All-Time NFL Team selection, Johnson was one of the first players to display elaborate celebrations in theend zone.
Johnson earned the nickname "White Shoes" in high school in theChichester School District inBoothwyn, Pennsylvania, where he dyed his shoes as part of a dare.[1] Johnson attendedDivision III schoolWidener College inPennsylvania, where he was a member ofAlpha Sigma Phi fraternity. As a 5'9", 170-pound sophomore, Johnson was named to the 1972Associated Press College Division All-American team.[2] Johnson was drafted by theHouston Oilers, in the 15th round of the1974 NFL draft.
Johnson joined the Houston Oilers as akickoff returner, with his speed and quickness becoming an occasional part of the offense. As a rookie, he began celebratingtouchdowns with a dance known as the "Funky Chicken", a dance based on a song from soul singerRufus Thomas.[3] It was one of the firsttouchdown celebrations in league history.[3]
As a kick returner, Johnson returned five punts for touchdowns, along with two kickoffs, in his first four years with the Oilers, and added 12 more touchdowns on offense. He was selected to thePro Bowl as a kick returner in 1975, and was named MVP of the game, during which he returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown. He made another Pro Bowl appearance in 1977. In 1979, he suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss most of the next two seasons and lingered with him for the rest of his career. When he returned in 1980, he was no longer the kick returner, serving only as a backup wide receiver.
Johnson played the 1981 season in theCanadian Football League with theMontreal Alouettes. He caught 65 passes for 1,060 yards and five touchdowns, and returned 59 punts for 597 yards. He returned to the NFL with theAtlanta Falcons in 1982. In 1983, he doubled as a full-time kick returner, where he scored his sixth career touchdown on a punt return, and starting wide receiver, leading the team in receptions. Johnson earned his third Pro Bowl berth that season. Most notably, he caught aHail Mary pass to defeat theSan Francisco 49ers. He missed most of 1984 due to injury, and was benched as a return man in 1985. Johnson was forced to curtail his end-zone dances after the NFL instituted a rule against excessive and premeditated celebration.[4] He led the Falcons in receptions and receiving yards in 1985. Johnson was injured in 1986 and retired after the 1987 season, although he played one game for theWashington Redskins in 1988.
Johnson is an assistant varsity football coach atDuluth High School inDuluth, Georgia.[5]
Johnson appeared in 25 games for thePhiladelphia Athletics of the American Professional Slo-Pitch Softball League (APSPL) in 1978, one of severalmen's professional softball leagues, batting .349 with four home-runs.[6]
In 1994, Johnson was selected as the punt returner on theNFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.[7] His was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.[8][9]
Johnson is the only man selected to the National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team who is not in thePro Football Hall of Fame.
Johnson is one of 29 individuals to be selected to multiple All-Decade teams.[10] On December 17, 2023, Johnson was inducted into theTennessee Titans Ring of Honor.[11]
Johnson was a star sprinter, and competed in Masters Track and Field after his football career.[12]
