Pro Football Hall of Fame

HOF Selection Committee

RE: #TheNomination

Dear Esteemed Writers,

Before I nominate a Senior player to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, might I take the opportunity to make a request? I understand that there are no primary specialists, more specifically, is no primary Return Specialist inducted to the Hall. Perhaps there has been some sort of delay on behalf of a deserving playmaker and game-changer, the final induction of the NFL 75th Anniversary team? 

Back in the 1970s-80s, coaches and players needed to do more than having a marching band-style philosophy during kick-off and punts. Teams had to implement strategy behind their kicks because there was one 5’9” player who had more Jazz in his White Shoes than New Orleans.

My name is Shannon McFarland, and I’m a publicist from Champaign-Urbana, IL. Throughout this pandemic, I’ve been quarantined at my parents’ house. I did not know that Eureka Street- My street- Had been graced with a very special presence before me, I ran on the same block as Mr. Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. These past few weeks I’ve been fortunate enough to hear first hand, how Johnson’s stats sing high notes, watched him tell stories and witness him bleed camaraderie, and marking his legacy to share for years to come. 

Would you consider helping me honor Mr. Johnson by making a Return Specialist category in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? I believe him to be the catalyst and a primary returner from the Philly Sports Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame, with more than 10,000 NFL all-purpose yards. For his stats, camaraderie, and for his legacy, I would like to nominate Mr. Billy Johnson into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a primary Return Specialist and secondary  Wide Receiver. 

A true trendsetter. I reviewed Mr. Johnson’s touchdown runs, and the Funky Chicken isn’t even the most impressive part- It is the split and the flip behind the back inside the endzone that gets me- This dance sequence was really neat! Hailing from Chichester High School to Mr. Johnson’s 143-game NFL career, we celebrated eight return touchdowns, twenty-five more receiving touchdowns, and could be the reason many of his peers assume he’s in the Hall already. This is as many total punt and kickoff return touchdowns in NFL history as Jack Christiansen and Gale Sayers. He’s tied for 9th as the NFL career leader. This is why I believe that Mr. Billy White Shoes Johnson has TD into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Temporary Delay. 

I grew up in the 1990s and have heard of the Houston Oilers, but I had never seen any highlight footage until after I met Mr. White Shoes. One day, I reached my head from the front door to speak with a group outside the neighbor’s home. It turned out Billy Johnson and my neighbor are brothers-in-law, and he was being interviewed for the University of Illinois’ HipHop Xpress. Dr. William Patterson is a clinical professor at the U of I and he wrote a piece about the influence sport has over our culture, how it is a tool in exhibiting our civil rights, and what can be done to settle our unrest across the country. 

They talked about White Shoes, and how entertainment serves as a vital sense of the Black NFL experience to this day. I have never scored an NFL touchdown, but you better believe I’ve done his NFL touchdown dance! His dance captivated kids on Eureka Street, grownups on Wall Street, and many others across the world; touched scenes in the movie Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, even Peyton Manning learned the iconic dance for ESPN+ #PeytonsPlace. Scoring was fun for Billy and he was the pioneer behind the endzone celebration, and excessive celebration rule. Now, you won’t see many scores without some sort of dance or choreographed celebration. That’s part of Billy’s rich legacy. Being upon one of the first Return Specialists to give teams the blues, Mr. Johnson will be the final player on the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time to be selected into the HOF.

With all due respect, there is a HOFer listed as a CB-KR-PR, nine touchdowns from returns, and we celebrated 22 throughout his career. He had this philosophy: “They don’t pay nobody to be humble,” but I can’t say Mr. Johnson has this same approach. His philosophy is being blessed. Blessed to be the 1983 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, blessed to be selected for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, blessed to be a member on the NFL 1970s All-Decade and 1980s All-Decade Teams, and blessed to have 6,258 return yards. Mr. Johnson rings with modern stats of Mr. Deion Sanders and his 188 game career with 5,722 return yards. Mr. Sanders: 22.7 yards per kick return; 10.4 per punt return. Mr. Johnson’s average: 23.9 yards per kick return; 11.7 yards per punt return. 

Mr. Billy White Shoes Johnson has TD into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Temporary Delay.

I would like to nominate Billy “White Shoes” Johnson to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a primary Return Specialist, but I see that is not a category in which to honor. I would like to request for this to be amended because Mr. White Shoes should be the first Return Specialist to be inducted. Johnson not only was a player, but he was an innovator and a sports genius. With his disjunct return patterns, Billy melodically played his opponents throughout two decades and forced teams to change their special team’s formation. Otherwise, you’ll see him in the end zone. 

If a new category is necessary, I would like an admission granted for Mr. White Shoes. In 2004, the MLB selected Dennis Eckersley for the Hall Of Fame as their first primary closer. Eck initially was a starter, yet his 390 saves made them pay attention. Johnson made kickers pay attention while playing for the Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Redskins, being ranked 7th all-time for punt return yards. He has the most returns at 282 from his era and retired as the all-time leader in yards by a Return Specialist and primary Wide Receiver. 

Please join me, and help place Billy Johnson on the next possible Pro Football Hall of Fame nomination ballot by casting your vote? I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Yours truly,

Shannon M. McFarland