Legendary Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson has accomplished enough in his career to earn him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Yet, one of the most iconic and memorable moments of his NFL career occurred after the whistle blew.
Legendary Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson had enough of Cortland Finnegan
![Legendary Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson's Iconic Fight was Actually Planned Out 1 houston texans andre johnson cortland finnegan](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/USATSI_5121662_168400517_lowres-scaled-e1724954722189.webp)
In a moment that represented the intense AFC South rivalry between the current and former Houston organizations, Johnson and Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan got into a massive brawl.
Johnson and Finnegan had something brewing between them before the fight took place, but all fans saw was two NFL stars going after it with their helmets off.
In honor of Andre Johnson retiring, here’s him beating the s**t out of Cortland Finnegan #BeatsByDre pic.twitter.com/57yrMQ0r2O
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) October 31, 2016
Finnegan had established a reputation as one of the defenders in the league that trash-talked the most, but he didn’t fail to back it up. Finnegan wasn’t quite the Hall of Fame player that Johnson was, but he was at the top of his craft earning All-Pro honors in 2008.
Legendary Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan’s beef went back years
![Legendary Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson's Iconic Fight was Actually Planned Out 2 USATSI 4981254 168400517 lowres](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/USATSI_4981254_168400517_lowres.webp)
On the surface, the incident between Johnson and Finnegan seems like a moment in which tempers flared to such a degree that the Miami Hurricanes product could not contain himself.
In reality, the fight between Johnson and Finnegan was a long time coming. In an article from USA Today, Johnson explains that the fight occurred as a result of three years of nuisances dished out by Finnegan.
“No, it was just — that was like three years worth of stuff, man,” Johnson said. “It built up to that point, and it just happened.”
More recently, on a live version of the “Nightcap” podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Andre Johnson explained that he had to stop the people he was with from fighting Finnegan at a nightclub.
Johnson proceeded to explain that he told head coach Gary Kubiak that he was going to fight Finnegan because the Texans were at a point in the game where they were okay with losing Johnson.
LEGEND: #Texans great Andre Johnson says his bro & boi wanted to jump Courtland Finnegan at a night club, he called them off, & then whooped Finnegan in the game
“I’m finna beat his a**,” Johnson told his coach in the game.
💀💀💀
(Via @NightcapShow_)
pic.twitter.com/R0ImODOwRn— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 29, 2024
Texans fans rejoiced when Johnson fought Finnegan as he was known as one of the most annoying players in the league, especially for a team that had to play him twice every season.
Despite a legendary career with over 14,000 yards receiving, 70 touchdowns and over 1,000 receptions, the fight with Finnegan remains one his most iconic moments.
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