 This is the OTP presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. Plan on paying less for the coverage you need with Farm Bureau Health Plans. Get a quote today at FBHP.com. I'm Mike Keith and excited to talk with someone who, when I was a young man starting to follow the NFL, was a player that we were always excited to see, a player that we looked up to, Billy White Shoes Johnson joins me on the OTP. Sir, it is a pleasure to have you here. Thanks for joining us. Well, thank you. It's good to be here. It's good to be seen these days. All right. So I have to ask this question. Do you ever wear anything other than white shoes? No. I don't. No. Really one I might have, but after that second or third year, I don't think I have. But in your, like in your wardrobe, do you? No. I always wear white shoes. When you're white shoes, Johnson, you have to wear white shoes, right? Exactly. Exactly. I mean, people look at you like you got two heads if I don't have more white shoes. And then they get to the point where, you know, sometimes you can have a little bit of blue in the back of the shoe. That's not an all white shoe. So man, I can't win, but yeah, it's only white shoes. So how did you become white shoes, Johnson? I was the president of the Pat Boone Club. We were white bucks. I'm lying. I was going to say, you've got to be kidding me. I know about the white bucks with Pat Boone, belly. No. No, that's good. No. Very well done. I started just to be different in high school because at that time, everybody's wearing black shoes and it kind of redundant to me. And I just wanted to do a little flash. So we were sitting on our front porch, I guess, one day, and a good friend of ours came up to me while I was out there. I'm not going to impressionable. He asked me, if you think you're so good, why don't you wear white shoes like Joe Willie Naiman? Well, because he was the guy. He was the guy who started them. He wore those white spot builds that were so sweet. Yeah, they were nice. And see what I did when I got my shoes finally. I had kangaroo. You remember the kangaroo leather, which was a little bit messed up from spot build, but we were able to get some. And I took him to a nice little cobbler who dyed those shoes. I mean, he stripped the shoe and then he died, put dye on it and he taught me how to do it. So my senior year of my junior year, my senior year, he did two pairs and I did one pair, but he did that. And so what happened, we went to a game and we played the best defense in our county. And I had a good game and it was a homecoming game. So they says, blazing Billy white shoes, something, something, the crowd on mothers, on the parents day, which was a big headline. And I thought it was hokey at that time on white shoes. And ever since then, and ever since that game, but I had that good game and they've been calling me white shoes. Now my coach didn't care too much for it at first. Because it was too showy. Too showy. Yeah. And he's the kind of guy with no frills. No frills. Right. But when I went to training camp and I wore him one day and he came after a second and a third or fourth day, two or days and we were going to have a scrimmage. He said, what's up with the shoes? For no better reason, I said, they make me run faster. And he didn't say a word. He just said, okay. And I didn't say it. So we had a scrimmage and I had a good game. He never said another word about the shoes. And I'm so thankful that he allowed me to wear them because, and you feel good about it because, you know, if you look good, you feel good, that old saying is true. I went to high school. I knew that. I said, man, just give me a little bit more confidence. It's just not a doldrum zone. It was something that was different. And you had to play because you're seeing. You're the guy out there who's showing, who's wearing white shoes. And of course, they're going to want to stop the walked man, you know, a guy who they might think might be a hot dog. So it made you play harder, train harder, so you wouldn't be embarrassed. It took guts. Yeah. In the late 60s and early 70s, that was not done. Yeah. Well, you had to have a little bit of talent, I guess, to do that. And our team was talented to the point. We didn't win those state championships, but we played well. But you go to Widener College, which is now Widener University. Correct. And it had been a military school before you got there. So how did, how were you able to keep wearing the white shoes there? PMC, well, at that time they started being a little, they were relinquish that strict dressing command. But at that time, Coach Bill Manliffe, which changed the whole history of PMC Widener, he was there and he didn't mind. And it was just as long as you could play and show toughness. That's all that mattered. And you know, you could follow the rules. Because like I said, I started when it was PMC and I graduated when it was Widener. On my diploma, it has PMC Widener, which is good. Because Coach Manliffe made all the difference for me in the world. I was kind of bragging though she, you know, take challenges, a little cocky. I wasn't a never arrogant, but just I liked taking challenges. And he was able to, he's such a good person. He was like my dad. He talked something. You do something wrong and you know you want to hear from me. Shoot. I disappointed Coach. That's for me. He was that kind of coach for me. And we're still good, best of friends now. And I talked to he and Mrs. Manliffe, Edna. Let me stay in touch. But he was that kind of coach. It was really good for me. To me, he exemplified what it was like to be a coach. Now he could be tough on you, but he was fair. And he had a lot of respect from a lot of people, from a lot of guys on the team. And it was just like that father, father figure. And I had a strong father. But I can only imagine if I did something wrong with him. You know, he handled a different way. Coach Manliffe was a little bit more mild mannered. But no, he was, I had so much of the utmost respect for him. The Oilers drafted you in the 15th round in 1974. Do you know the story of how they found you? Were you made aware of that later on in life? I think it was Bruce Kevrick, who was on a scouting trip. He was up near a temple. And if I'm not mistaken, he said, well, let me go up and I'll see this guy. Because our team, our offensive line was pretty good at that time. I mean, I think for anybody behind that line, they would have done well. And he heard about me, came out. I guess they ran me through the 40 and came out on the field to see me do some things on the field. And he said, hey, I like this guy. And that's what it was told to me. So I'm not sure, but it was because of Bruce Kevrick. Now I am an Oiler. Well, I mean, let's face it, Widener is more famous for being the school that director Cecil B. DeMille attended. Cecil B. DeMille, yes. And Humphrey Bogart, don't forget that. Well, there are a lot of politicians and lawyers and big time people have gone there to find you in the 15th round and then to bring you in and for you to make the team. How does a 15th round pick make a football team? I don't think I was blessed. I was truly blessed by God because you're a 15th round draft teacher. You're a small guy from a small school. You know, just the timing was right. And that timing was from the Lord Himself. So I take no credits for making it other than being in the right place at the right time and putting me there. And punt returning and kick returning, that was the way in. That was the way in. I just wanted to get a chance to get the ball any way I could to prove that I could play with the guys who let's face it went to bigger schools, had more media attention than myself. Well, I can play just as good as them if given the opportunity. And lo and behold, I was given that opportunity. Where did the dance come from and when did it first happen? I know the dance itself was the funky chicken. Yeah. But where did it come from in your mind to do that and where did you first do it? I first did it. I was, you know, at that time, college, we were playing a rival team of ours. And they got a little above themselves, you know. And me being always in the entertainment club at that time, I would be hosting nightclub acts and stuff like that. Really? Yeah, I had a chance to host a Rufus Thomas who made the funky chicken famous. Who made the, and do the funky chicken. And I'm telling you another lie. Oh, you didn't, see. No, I shouldn't do that. I promise no more, no more storytelling. But I did know Rufus Thomas. I didn't know that was true. And that could have happened. Yeah, you're right. Yeah, that's what happened in the court of law. You could have told me that and I would have never doubted you. No, you're right. Because it's almost like the truth, you know. But no, but what happened, this is true. We were playing a rival ball club of ours. And they said some things which was bulletin board material. And we were sitting in the, I think, in a locker room joking and, you know, how guys are. You push one, everybody pushing the envelope. And I said, I'll tell you what. If I were to score, I'm going to, I'm going to dance and I did something. And they said, man, you ain't going to do it. I said, man, I am, I really, I had no real intentions of doing it. But when I scored, I had to do something because, you know, you can't live it down. You would have been a plug if you had done it at that time and said you're going to do something, didn't do it. So I scored a couple of times, I danced a couple of times and I kept my end of the bargain. That's how I looked at it. But it just so happened because we had a lot of fun with it. We weren't trying to be derogatory in any way, trying to rub their noses in it. We were just having fun. It was part of what we did. And you mentioned your coach would let you be you. He would let me be. And that's what I really liked. That's what I really liked. He didn't say anything. There's one time, though, he did say, I was really upset at that we were playing a team. I'm not going to mention their names. And they were playing a little dirty because they wanted to get me, you know. And I understand you're a marked man, but I got a little upset. So I broke into the open field and I sat down and I started slowing down. And I pointed at the guys, which is a hot dog. And I'm really not that player. And he said, why don't you do that? Not in the over animated voice or anything like that. He said, that's not you. He says, you know, don't do that. He says, that's how you get hurt. You set yourself up to get hurt. He said, but you're a better person. A better person than that be above that. And I felt about this big. I felt about one inch tall because he was telling the truth and I knew better. But I just wanted to get my point of revenge after what they did to me. You know, trying to poke me in the eye. You know, just playing a little bit dirty. And they know me wouldn't. But after that, no problems. Did you know you were going to do that when you got in the end zone when you were with the Oilers or did it just happen? I promise you it just happened. Because it happened and I beat the Steelers. After you, they went and won the Super Bowl. 74, we had beat the Steelers. I had scored on the end around. And Mike Wagner was the last guy I had to run past. Number 23? Yes, yes sir. And I went in there and I automatically did it. And I said, oh shucks. I said, here I am up here on a big stage in the professional ranks. I'm being a hot dog. But I wasn't. I went over and I asked him about that. He said, that's what it takes. I'd like to see more of it. I wasn't going to go see C.C. Ed Gilman at that time. He was a head coach. He probably could care less because I got in the end zone. And Mom just said, hey, that's what it takes. So be it, you know. And that's what happened. I really didn't. And then a couple of other times I said, I'm not going to dance again. And it just happened. And so any time I would score after that, I would dance. I used to get phone calls on the road. Hopefully our team wins, but we want to see you do the dance. I mean, I don't know how they got my number at the hotel to call or say leave a message. And it was fun. I just, you know, in the NFL was fun. I never ever tried to humiliate another opponent. They can't say that I did. You look at any tape. I went to the end zone, corner of the end zone to dance. When did you know that it was something very different and that people really loved it? Wow. That's probably about the third time I did it. And I said, man, we want to see that dance today in the next game. I said, wow, maybe something this good. And it seemed as though, you know, you get pumped up more and you work harder. Because you're an entertainer. I mean, we are entertainment, but I just, I mean, I did it in the college all that time. And it seemed at that time when I was in college that people wanted to come to the game to see what he would do next. That's what it was. But I, you know, like I say, it was all part of getting our guys pumped up because they wanted to see it. They had their hand and allowed me to be successful to get into the end zone. Be it a punt return, a kickoff return, a pass, or anything from Skrimmage, they knew they had a hand in it. And that was a celebration not only for me, but for the team. More of the conversation with Billy White shoes Johnson on the OTP continues. But first, we have to remind you it's always game on with Duncan. So grab a coffee and kick off the action. Whether that's drinking a cup of coffee on your way to the game or grabbing one to go before watching the game at home, Duncan is always there to help you get your game on. Just like the pros, we need to be at our best come game time, which is why Duncan is the most important part of your game day ritual, because it's always the best call for football. America runs on Duncan. But those Oilers teams you were on too. I mean, Bump Phillips was a character. Yeah. How he dressed and everything. Yeah. There were other characters on the team. Earl Campbell certainly became a mythical figure. And so you were part of something Love You Blue Where the Houston Oilers all of the things that were with it challenging the Steelers for the first time in that era. It was a thing and you were a part of that thing that NFL Films would seemingly show every single week. I think it's because it was an oddity at that time. The moment of this cop we had and the players are no-name defense at that time when you look at. I mean, other than Curly, who else would you say? Maybe Elvethay, because he'd been in all those years. Then we got Robert, Brazil on the defense and Teddy, Dr. Doom. Yeah, Dr. Doom. Yeah. And then you had Kenny Burrow, 00. You know, who? 00. I remember John was talking about that. So we had the big names like that. But, you know, who would have said, yeah, that's good down there. But when we got on the national stage and played the Steelers tough and of course they beat us twice to get to the Super Bowl. But it was fun. And you can tell a lot of draft choices. I don't know if I should say draft choices. A lot of free agents made that team. Made it up at that time to to make it what it was. So when you're a hard-working guy and we're all after the same thing, you know, some of us didn't get a chance to, rightfully so. But we got that second chance and we wanted to make well with it. So that's why we were so close, I think. And we enjoyed each other. We enjoyed being around each other. Especially when the cities started getting behind us, boy. And that's all we had. And then we got her off. Woo! Wow! We were all for money for sure then. Billy White Shoes Johnson. The white shoes and the end-zone dance may have made you famous. But the fact of the matter is 1975 is one of the greatest years for a returner in NFL history. You're considered the greatest punt returner in NFL history. The 75th anniversary team named you as their punt returner. The 100th anniversary team in 2018 named you as the punt returner. So there was quite a bit of substance behind what you did more so than just the flash. And as your career went on, especially when you went to Atlanta later, you got a chance more as a receiver. True. I mean, your career was incredibly accomplished outside of just the fun part of it. And that has to be special in your heart, too. It is. I found a coach down there who knew I could play inside. He enhanced my career, the second part of my career with the Falcons. But I'll say this, it's the guys along the way that made it possible for me. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some of them guys made it happen for me. You know, you look at you got your names on defense and I started defense to be out there on punt returns, you know. Then you got your kickoff returns. Some of our offensive linemen would be out there starting offensive linemen to be out there. So it was gratifying to see these guys believed in me to, you know, and I believe in them. You look at for instance, Eddie Fisher, Andy Doris, Ronnie Coleman, C. L. Whittington, Al Johnson. These guys who made it happen for me, offensively and defensively, and they contributed as much to my success as I did. And I think that's why. Because we all wanted, we were all on the same page. We were on the same zone. Let's win. And then with the bottom of his file of coaching, only amplified it more so. Well, because him coming from the Bear Bryant Tree, he believed in special teams dramatically. He was from that school that you can change field positions. Sounds much like Mike Vrable right now. Change field position. You start every possession with the first down. You can pick up a score. All of those sorts of things factoring in. And then when you have a guy, and we start with Chris Johnson in 2009, we saw it with Derek Henry in 2020. When the team starts to believe the person with the ball can hit a home run, they try harder. Yeah, and that's true. And that's true. And me knowing that I'm going to have to wall my hand, they're expecting what I'm doing. So I got to make sure I produce for them because they made some blocks. I mean, you see some on several, I guess films of us returning the ball. Robert Brazil making two blocks, C.L. Wittington, Ronnie Coleman making two or three blocks. I'll never forget about three weeks back to back. Ronnie, C.L., I'll forget somebody else. They had not guys out of the game on special teams and they did it fairly. They could have probably gotten away with it today by today's standards of hitting people. But the angles that they were taking and the way that they were protecting me, golly, day. So I had to produce because those guys put on a line like that for me and kickoff returns. Gee whiz, it's the same thing. I mean, we had starting guys out there on the special teams and it's special. That's why I liked my mom. Mom never gave me no directions of, okay, we've got to return right, but you go with what you see. Always. Hey, handle the ball. You never supposed to handle the ball outside the 10-yard line. I did have several occasions not knowing where is that because he said, just get it. If you feel you can get it, go with it. What makes a great punt returner? Great judgment and right away with field presence of catching the ball, knowing where you are on the field, getting there quick, setting up like a baseball player, you know, as if he's getting ready to throw the ball. But once you get it, just such things take over. You know we supposed to go with your support, but you don't know. You just got to go with the flow of, you know, that which is intrinsic to happen. And if you buy, you do that, shoot, that's what it is. And I would say, I'll try something saying, you know, sit up quick, take the first step to freeze them, then go with what you know. Is Devin Hester the greatest overall returner of all time? Wow. He's one of the biggest I've seen. Physically he is. He's a good size guy. Oh, yeah. I say, no wonder he's tough to him. He's smart, he knows he's got speed and he can do it. But you've got guys like Gels Sears and, you know, Rick Upchurch and I'll tell you, in our conference you had Greg Pruitt. There's a lot to be said about that. He's got some contention there. Well, because the guys you're talking about weren't specialists. No. Rick Upchurch played wide receiver. Greg Pruitt was a great running back. Gels Sears was Gels Sears. Come on. And you got Eminence and Elm. Go back to Eminence and Elm. Yes. I mean, so who's to say? I mean, just to be mentioned in that company, I feel good because all those guys were, they made a difference in the game. But they're not the greatest punt returner on the 75th anniversary or the 100th anniversary. Wow. People see it differently. You ain't trapping me. No, I'm not trapping. I'm bragging on you because, I mean, to think about the people who voted on that and the amount of football that's been played and the way the kicking game has evolved in different ways, I mean, wow. I mean, to be called not just the first time around, you know, 25 years, in 1993, but in 2018 to be called again, that's phenomenal. What? Is that what you're most proud of? Well, I don't know. As a football player? Gosh. Probably, but there's a lot of other games that I think a lot of other things, you know, like when you talk about punt returns, you really talk, especially in this era after me, you look at Devin Heston, you look at Deon Sanders and a couple of guys came behind them. They're good, but I think most of you'll see that the other, like Deon, he played a position. Sure did. Most of us played a position, really, and contributed in a big way. Then you have something we just can't get on the field, all they can do is punt and kick off return, which is no slap in their face to me. I mean, if you can catch punts and I think about it and get it done, you, where you're supposed to be. And that's why I say, I hope they never take the return game out of the league altogether, because that's the exciting part of the football game to make the change of position. And when you look at guys like that, like I said, I feel happy to be mentioned like that and to be selected, but there's a lot more out there. But you think about the fabric of the NFL and everybody knows who you are because of your nickname. The story of the Enzone Dance, which is part of the celebration, which makes the NFL the number one sport in America because it's not just a game. It's a show and people love following every part of the show and the celebration is fun. When I started playing football we did the Billy White shoes Johnson dance. Dating me. But the whole thing was they can't tell the story of this league without you. And I mean, that's I mean, and you've done a lot more. You had 15 years. You had to go to Canada to work your way back from an injury and to show that you could still do it. And then you were with the Falcons for 15 years doing their director of player development. And I mean, you've had a remarkable career in and outside of football. But I mean, this has got to be for a guy who played at Widener and it's got to be a little mind-numbing, right? It is. I overwhelmed when Amy gave me the news that they were going to put me to the ring of honor. Boy, I mean, I was speechless and overwhelmed because that takes a lot for a team to sit down there and decide of who would go into the ring of honor. And I'm looking at the guys that I'm following are old Campbell, Robert Brazil Alvin, but they Frank White check and all these guys. It's as tall, you know, you're in big company big time company. And, you know, I just so blessed and fortunate that I came along when I came along and played for the right people. And I just I just have been so fortunate. It's been a great walk for me, a great run. And I have no regrets. I do it again. It just like I say, I, you know, from the very beginning I called Alvin Bethea to honor the strike at that time. And he asked me what round was I drafted in the 15th. He said, no, come on in. Every since I called him that day, I got at his handle me saying, OK, we're going to because I don't want they want to be a strike breaker or a scab. And Alvin just said, hey, I guess he thought I wasn't going to make the team be in the 15th round drive. So he said, yeah, come on in. Then when he met me, I'll never, never forget. Oh, you're the little pissant who called me about about coming, coming to camp. He says, man, if I know how big you are, I told you, no, don't come at all. But it was so funny. And I said, yeah. He said, well, I'm glad you did. Glad you made things worked out for you. But it's yeah, I guess this, this moment of being inducted into the ring of honors is something I never thought about. And I never found in any way. And Amy Adams struck made it happen because she's been determined to put the whole family together. And for those of us here, it's been a beautiful thing to get to experience all of to see all of this together in this way. And like I said, I've known who you were for 50 years. And so the excitement of getting a chance to meet you and getting a chance to see this happen for you. And I think people of my age and even younger who know your story that they knew immediately when Amy said she wanted to do this like absolutely. He's not already in and so it's it's you're the 18th member and it's wonderful. Well, thank you. And I just I'm glad and first class all the way first class all the way. So it's like I said, it's kind of overwhelming at that time. I mean, for me it is Billy White Shoes Johnson. Thank you so much for joining me on the OTP. Reminder that Seat Geek is the official ticketing partner of the Tennessee Titans. Whether you're buying or selling tickets to Titans games or to any live event in Nashville, Seat Geek is the place to do it. Seat Geek, the new official ticketing partner of the Tennessee Titans so Titans fans can fan. For the newest member of the Oilers Titans Ring of Honor, Billy White Shoes Johnson, I'm Mike Keith Thank you for joining us for the OTP.