Hall of Famer Andre Johnson of Texas encourages women to participate in flag football

HOUSTON — Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Johnson didn’t hesitate when asked what advice he would give to girls who want to play soccer.

“Tell them, get out there,” he said.

Johnson joined the Houston Texans on Saturday at NRG Stadium, where they hosted a screening of the documentary “The Herricanes,” about the women’s professional soccer team that played in Houston in the 1970s.

The screening was attended by members of the Herricanes, the film’s director Olivia Kuan, the Houston Westbury High School girls flag football team and Hannah McNair, vice president of the Houston Texans Foundation and wife of Texans owner Cal McNair.

Texans are working to get more girls involved in soccer in the city, and the team foundation sponsors flag soccer teams at 12 high schools in the Houston Independent School District and nine more at charter schools.

Next year, the Texans will expand the program to all 25 HISD high schools in an effort to have the state sanction girls flag football as a UIL sport.

“We refocused our foundation last year to focus on girls flag football because we want to give all girls in Houston the opportunity to play the game we love and know how life-changing it can be,” McNair said. “We know what a difference it can make to a girl’s life, her mental health, her sisterhood through commitment and just… inspiration from those around you.”

The McNairs have long played flag football, and Janice McNair, wife of late Texas founder Bob McNair, played what was then called Powder Puff football in college. Hannah McNair played the sport in college, and her daughter Hunter currently plays flag football in a boys’ league.

“Seeing these women in this room who paved the way really impressed me today,” Hannah McNair said. “It was quite emotional. I cried several times. And then when you see the next generation of flag football with Westbury, you can really see what has been done to help all of us play the game.

Marty Bryant was a defender for the Herricanes, which played in the National Women’s Soccer League from 1976-79. She beams as she talks to the high school players about her time on the field and is thrilled that the barriers they broke have made it easier for the girls to break into the game today.

“It’s a big sigh of relief. Absolutely,” she said. “This has been going on for so long and it’s such a relief to see it actually happen. These girls can just go play because they want to play. It’s amazing. It makes your heart smile.”

Johnson played as a receiver for the Texans from 2003-2014 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. He never questioned the girls’ ability to play soccer because his cousin always played with him and his friends when he was a kid.

“We went against other districts and they always laughed at us because we brought a girl with us who killed people,” Johnson said. “She … would go out there and score three or four touchdowns a game. And especially for me, I will tell every woman: go have fun.

Johnson is happy that girls playing soccer are becoming more accepted and believes interest will only grow.

“As you can see, just like with the WNBA, how things have evolved and now more people are watching WNBA games than ever before,” he said. “So I think it’s more about just having a chance.”

Westbury players were thrilled to hear Johnson’s words of encouragement on Saturday.

“I’m really excited that someone like that is excited about us,” said 17-year-old Choyce Tatum, a defender on the team. “It makes me more excited.”

Added her teammate, Emree Miller, who is a running back and safety, “Seeing someone like that encouraging girls’ soccer is very inspiring and motivating.”

Tatum and Miller have not faced the discrimination Herricanes experienced while playing football more than 40 years ago. They said everyone supports their efforts, with a member of the men’s soccer team even giving them tips.

“They teach us what they know and it makes us better,” Tatum said.

The documentary is currently showing at the River Oaks Theater in Houston and will also be shown in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles in the coming months.

Bryant hopes the video and players’ efforts around the game will encourage people to just let people do what they love, no matter what.

“I hope they learn that you can’t just follow the vast majority and think that women can’t do this and men can’t do that, little girls shouldn’t be here,” she said. “Just give people a chance. Let them try.