Billy “White Shoes” Johnson
Billy “White Shoes” Johnson was a groundbreaking NFL wide receiver, return specialist, and touchdown celebration pioneer who played from 1974-1988 with the Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons, and Washington. The three-time Pro Bowler and NFL All-Pro selection earned his iconic nickname from dyeing his football cleats white in high school. Johnson revolutionized NFL entertainment with his famous “Funky Chicken” touchdown dance, becoming one of the first players to display elaborate celebrations in the end zone. As a premier return specialist, Johnson returned five punts for touchdowns, along with two kickoffs, in his first four years and was selected to both the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams. His 15-year professional football career combined exceptional special teams performance with his trailblazing end zone celebrations that helped transform NFL culture. Johnson remains a Pro Football Hall of Fame candidate and is considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history.
Image Gallery of Billy Johnson, Returner/Receiver 1974-1988
Billy Johnson Football Trading Cards
Billy Johnson All Time Career Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Total Scrimage | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Games | Starts | # | Catches | Yards | Y/R | Long | TD | Carries | Yards | Y/A | Long | TD | Touches | Y/Tch | YScm | R&R TDs | |
| 1974 | 22 | HOU | 14 | 5 | 84 | 29 | 388 | 13.4 | 44 | 2 | 5 | 82 | 16.4 | 47 | 1 | 34 | 13.8 | 470 | 3 | 1 |
| 1975* | 23 | HOU | 14 | 14 | 84 | 37 | 393 | 10.6 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 3.4 | 19 | 0 | 42 | 9.8 | 410 | 1 | 5 |
| 1976 | 24 | HOU | 14 | 13 | 84 | 47 | 495 | 10.5 | 40 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1.0 | 10 | 0 | 53 | 9.5 | 501 | 4 | 3 |
| 1977*+ | 25 | HOU | 14 | 0 | 84 | 20 | 412 | 20.6 | 71 | 3 | 6 | 102 | 17.0 | 61 | 1 | 26 | 19.8 | 514 | 4 | 2 |
| 1978 | 26 | HOU | 5 | 0 | 84 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1979 | 27 | HOU | 2 | 2 | 84 | 6 | 108 | 18.0 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 18.0 | 108 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1980 | 28 | HOU | 16 | 7 | 84 | 31 | 343 | 11.1 | 57 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 10.4 | 344 | 2 | 1 |
| 1981 | 30 | Played for Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | 30 | ATL | 9 | 0 | 81 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5.5 | 11 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 1983* | 31 | ATL | 16 | 1 | 81 | 64 | 709 | 11.1 | 47 | 4 | 15 | 83 | 5.5 | 36 | 0 | 79 | 10.0 | 792 | 4 | 4 |
| 1984 | 32 | ATL | 6 | 0 | 81 | 24 | 371 | 15.5 | 45 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 2.7 | 11 | 0 | 27 | 14.0 | 379 | 3 | 1 |
| 1985 | 33 | ATL | 16 | 8 | 81 | 62 | 830 | 13.4 | 62 | 5 | 8 | -8 | -1.0 | 6 | 0 | 70 | 11.7 | 822 | 5 | 4 |
| 1986 | 34 | ATL | 4 | 0 | 81 | 6 | 57 | 9.5 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 4.2 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 6.8 | 82 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 35 | ATL | 12 | 1 | 81 | 8 | 84 | 10.5 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10.5 | 84 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1988 | 36 | WAS | 1 | 0 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 7 seasons Oilers | 79 | 41 | 171 | 2149 | 12.6 | 71 | 13 | 24 | 208 | 8.7 | 61 | 2 | 195 | 12.1 | 2357 | 15 | 12 | |||
| 6 seasons Falcons | 63 | 10 | 166 | 2062 | 12.4 | 62 | 12 | 32 | 108 | 3.4 | 36 | 0 | 198 | 11.0 | 2170 | 12 | 12 | |||
| 1 season Redskins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 14 Year NFL Career | 143 | 51 | 337 | 4211 | 12.5 | 71 | 25 | 56 | 316 | 5.6 | 61 | 2 | 393 | 11.5 | 4527 | 27 | 24 | |||
| Season | Team | Games | Catches | Yards | Y/R | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | HOU | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 |
| 1982 | ATL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Post Season Totals Falcons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Post Season Totals Oilers | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Career Post Season Totals | 2 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Punt Returns | Kick Returns | All Purpose Yards | Total TDS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Pos | Games | Starts | # | Returns | Yards | Y/Ret | Long | TDs | Returns | Yards | Y/Ret | Long | TDs | ||
| 1974 | 22 | HOU | WR | 14 | 5 | 84 | 30 | 409 | 13.6 | 49 | 0 | 29 | 785 | 27.1 | 67 | 0 | 1664 | 3 |
| 1975* | 23 | HOU | WR | 14 | 14 | 84 | 40 | 612 | 15.3♦ | 83♦ | 3♦ | 33 | 798 | 24.2 | 81 | 1♦ | 1820 | 5 |
| 1976 | 24 | HOU | WR | 14 | 13 | 84 | 38 | 403 | 10.6 | 46 | 0 | 26 | 579 | 22.3 | 53 | 0 | 1483 | 4 |
| 1977*+ | 25 | HOU | WR | 14 | 0 | 84 | 35 | 539 | 15.4♦ | 87 | 2♦ | 25 | 630 | 25.2 | 76 | 1 | 1683 | 6 |
| 1978 | 26 | HOU | WR | 5 | 0 | 84 | 8 | 60 | 7.5 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 73 | 18.3 | 22 | 0 | 143 | 0 |
| 1979 | 27 | HOU | WR | 2 | 2 | 84 | 4 | 17 | 4.3 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 37 | 9.3 | 12 | 0 | 162 | 1 |
| 1982 | 30 | ATL | WR | 9 | 0 | 81 | 24 | 273 | 11.4 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 284 | 0 | |
| 1983* | 31 | ATL | WR | 16 | 1 | 81 | 46 | 489 | 10.6 | 71 | 1♦ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1281 | 5 | |
| 1984 | 32 | ATL | WR | 6 | 0 | 81 | 15 | 152 | 10.1 | 37 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 19.5 | 21 | 0 | 570 | 3 |
| 1985 | 33 | ATL | WR | 16 | 8 | 81 | 10 | 82 | 8.2 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 904 | 5 | |
| 1986 | 34 | ATL | WR | 4 | 0 | 81 | 8 | 87 | 10.9 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 0 | |
| 1987 | 35 | ATL | WR | 12 | 1 | 81 | 21 | 168 | 8.0 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 252 | 0 | |
| 1988 | 36 | WAS | WR | 1 | 0 | 88 | 3 | 26 | 8.7 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 7 seasons Oilers | 79 | 41 | 155 | 2040 | 13.2 | 87 | 5 | 121 | 2902 | 24.0 | 81 | 2 | 7299 | 22 | ||||
| 6 seasons Falcons | 63 | 10 | 124 | 1251 | 10.1 | 71 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 19.5 | 21 | 0 | 3460 | 13 | ||||
| 1 season Redskins | 1 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 8.7 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |||||
| 14 Year NFL Career | 143 | 51 | 282 | 3317 | 11.8 | 87 | 6 | 123 | 2941 | 23.9 | 81 | 2 | 10785 | 35 | ||||
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
- + – NFL All Pro Selection
- * – NFL Pro Bowl Selection
- ♦ – Led the League
