Johnson turned heads with his end zone antics and made headlines with his NFL numbers.
William Arthur Johnson, better known as “White Shoes,” was a wide receiver and a return specialist for NFL’s Houston Oilers. He played from 1974 to 1988, and he’s the player who’s best known for starting end zone celebrations.
Johnson earned his nickname in high school. He dyed his shoes in response to a teammate’s dare. Unrecruited by major colleges, Johnson wound up at Widener College, a Division 3 school in Chester, Pennsylvania. He had a good career there, and the Oilers took a chance on Johnson in the 1974 Draft, selecting him in the 15th Round.
Johnson’s forte was as a kickoff returner. His speed and quickness enabled him to include receiving in his portfolio, and that’s where end zone celebrations were born. Every time Johnson scored a touchdown, he did a dance known as the Funky Chicken, connected to a song sung by Rufus Thomas. That dance, along with his footwear, contributed to Johnson’s popularity.
Johnson went on to play for other NFL teams, but his legacy is tied to the Oilers, snd his NFL work is lodged in the record books–a member of both the 75th and 100th Anniversary All-NFL teams, Johnson racked up nearly 3000 kickoff return yards, 3300 punt return yards, and 4000 receiving yards with 25 TDs. Now 70 years of age, he lives in Duluth, Georgia.
