[7] He was co-MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl, in which the Hurricanes defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers by a score of 37–14 to cap an undefeated season and their fifth national championship.

Johnson finished his college career catching 92 passes for 1,831 yards (19.9-yard average) and 20 touchdowns.

[11] As a University of Miami player, Johnson also ran for the Hurricanes track and field team.

Also a top competitor in the 400 meters, he ran a career-best time of 46.47 seconds in the finals of the 2003 FHSAA Class 3A Championships.

[14] He severed ties with NFL agents Michael Huyghue and Jeff Moorad before hiring sports attorney Don West Jr. to negotiate his rookie contract with the Texans.

[16] In Johnson's rookie season, he started and played in all 16 games, recording 66 receptions for 976 yards and four touchdowns for the 5–11 Texans.

[26] Johnson played in 13 games due to injury and had 63 receptions with 688 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans finished a franchise-worst 2–14.

[38] Johnson started the 2007 season with seven receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 20–3 victory in Week 1.

[45][46][47][48][49][50] On December 14, 2008, Johnson recorded his first 200-yard game with 207 yards and one touchdown in the Texans' 13–12 win over their AFC South rival Tennessee Titans.

[53][54] In Week 2, against the Tennessee Titans, Johnson had ten receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the 34–31 victory.

[70] In Week 12, against the Tennessee Titans, Johnson became the first player in NFL history to have 60 or more receptions in each of his first eight seasons.

Finnegan then removed and threw Johnson's helmet down-field and was promptly thrown to the ground by his jersey.

Johnson then proceeded to strike Finnegan on the back of his head and neck before being pulled away by the referee.

[78][79][80] However, just as running back Arian Foster had returned from a hamstring injury, Johnson suffered one of his own in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the second quarter, as Johnson caught a pass from Matt Schaub, he went down untouched, grabbing his right hamstring.

[82] Johnson finished the season with career-lows in games played (7), receptions (33), yards (492), and touchdowns (2), but the Texans, in their tenth season in the NFL, made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history by winning the AFC South Division with a 10–6 record.

[83][84] Johnson made his playoff debut against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round on January 7, 2012.

[87] Johnson started off the 2012 season with eight receptions for 119 receiving yards and one touchdown in a 30–10 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

[88] In Week 6, Johnson became the first Texan in franchise history to reach the 10,000 receiving yards milestone during a loss to the Green Bay Packers in 2012.

Many analysts doubted he would not be able to return to top form after his injury in 2011 and his limited production during the first half of the season.

[103] Johnson started out the 2013 season with 12 receptions for 146 receiving yards in a 31–28 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

[106] In the game, Johnson became the second-fastest player in NFL history to reach 12,000 career receiving yards.

[118] With the retirement of Reggie Wayne, 34-year-old Johnson began the 2015 season as the NFL's active leader in receiving yards, which he remained until passed by Steve Smith Sr. in Week 4 of 2016.

The best game of Johnson's 2015 season came against his former team, the Houston Texans, where he caught six passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

[125][126] On April 19, 2017, Johnson signed a one-day contract with the Texans so he could officially retire as a member of the team.

[127] During his farewell press conference he said his only regret was not bringing a championship to Houston and "even when I was with the Colts and the Titans, my heart never left this place.

[129] On February 8, 2024, Johnson was selected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in his third year of both eligibility and as a finalist.

[135] On December 4, 2012, Johnson made headlines around the world when it was shared that he spent over $19,000 for kids aged 8–16 in Child Protective Services to have a shopping spree at Toys "R" Us.