Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Johnson quickly shared his advice for girls interested in playing football. “Tell them, get out there,” he said.
Johnson was at NRG Stadium with the Houston Texans on Saturday for a screening of the documentary “The Herricanes,” which tells the story of a women’s professional tackle football team that played in Houston during the 1970s.
The event included members of the Herricanes, the movie’s director Olivia Kuan, the Houston Westbury High School girls flag football team, and Hannah McNair, the vice president of the Houston Texans Foundation and wife of Texans owner Cal McNair.
The Texans are working to increase female participation in football in the city. The team’s foundation sponsors flag football teams at 12 high schools in the Houston Independent School District, along with nine more from charter schools.
Next year, the Texans plan to expand the program to include all 25 HISD high schools while aiming to get the state to recognize girls flag football as a UIL sport.
“We refocused our foundation last year to focus on girls flag football because we want to create the opportunity for all girls here in Houston to be able to play the game that we love and we know how it can be life changing,” McNair said.
“We know how it can change a girl’s life, her mental health, the sisterhood of being involved and just … being inspired by those around you.”
The McNairs have a long history with flag football, as Janice McNair, wife of late Texans founder Bob McNair, played what was then called Powder Puff football in college. Hannah McNair participated in the sport in graduate school, and her young daughter Hunter is currently playing flag football in a boys’ league.
“Today was impactful seeing those women in that room that paved the way,” Hannah McNair said. “It was pretty emotional. I teared up a few times. And then to see the next generation of flag football with Westbury in there too, you can really see what has been done to help all of us to play the game.”
Marty Bryant was a running back for the Herricanes, which played in the National Women’s Football League from 1976 to 1979. She smiled as she talked to the high school players about her experiences on the field and was happy that the barriers they broke down have made it easier for girls to join the game today.
“It’s a big sigh of relief. Absolutely,” she said. “It’s been in the process for such a long time and it is such a great relief to see it actually happen. These girls can just go and play because they want to go play. That’s amazing. It makes your heart smile.”
Johnson played as a receiver for the Texans from 2003 to 2014 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. He has never doubted that girls can play football because he grew up playing with a female cousin who always joined him and his friends.
“We would go against other neighborhoods and they always laughed at us because we brought a girl with us and she used to kill people,” Johnson said. “She … would go out there and she would score three or four touchdowns a game. And just for me, I’ll tell any woman: Go play.”
Johnson is happy to see that girls playing football is becoming more accepted and believes interest will only grow.
“As you can see, like in the WNBA, how things have evolved and now you see more people watching WNBA games than ever,” he said. “So, I just think it’s just more about just having an opportunity.”
The players from Westbury were excited to hear Johnson’s encouraging words on Saturday.
“I’m so excited that someone like that is excited for us,” said 17-year-old Choyce Tatum, a running back on the team. “It makes me more excited.”
Her teammate Emree Miller, who plays running back and safety, added, “Seeing someone like that be encouraging of girls football is very inspirational and motivational.”
Tatum and Miller have not faced the discrimination that the Herricanes dealt with over 40 years ago. They said everyone has been supportive of their efforts, and even members of the boys’ varsity football team give them tips.
“They teach us what they know, making us better,” Tatum said. The documentary is currently showing at River Oaks Theater in Houston and will also be screened in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles in the coming months.
Bryant hopes the film and the struggles they faced while playing will encourage people to let others pursue what they love, no matter what.
“I hope they learn that you can’t just go with the vast majority and judge 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.”
