Billy Johnson ( American football ) William " Billy " Arthur Johnson , aka " White Shoes " ( born January 27 , 1952 in Boothwyn , Pennsylvania ) , is a former American football player in the National Football League from 1974 through 1988 . He is known for being one of the first players to display elaborate celebrations in the end zone . Early life . Johnson earned his famous nickname as a high schooler at Chichester Sr . High School in Boothwyn , Pennsylvania , where he dyed his shoes as part of a dare . Ever since then , he has been referred to by his nickname . He was a very fast athlete , but his 5 ' 9 " size turned off prominent universities from recruiting him . Billy ended up going to Widener College in Pennsylvania , a small Division III school , where he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity . While there , he had a highly successful career , but was barely noticed by professional scouts . He was eventually discovered by the Houston Oilers , who drafted him in the fifteenth round of the 1974 NFL Draft . Billy lived in Marcus Hook , Pa at the time he went to Elementary and Sr . High School Professional career . Houston Oilers . Johnson made the squad as a kickoff returner , with his speed and quickness becoming an occasional part of the offense . As a rookie , he began celebrating touchdown s with a dance known as the " Funky Chicken " , a dance based on a song from soul singer Rufus Thomas . It was one of the first touchdown celebration s in league history . He later developed a new dance called the " Six Shooter " . The dances , along with his footwear , made Johnson popular among Oilers fans . As a kick returner , Johnson returned five punts for touchdowns , along with two kickoffs , in his first four years with the Oilers , and added 12 more touchdowns on offense . He was selected to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner in 1975 , and was named MVP of the game , during which he returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown . He made another Pro Bowl appearance in 1977 . In 1978 , he suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss most of the next two seasons and lingered with him for the rest of his career . When he returned in 1980 , he was no longer the kick returner , serving only as a backup wide receiver . CFL and the Atlanta Falcons . Johnson played the 1981 season in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes , where he was a star on a dismal 3 win and 13 loss team ; he caught 65 passes for 1060 yards and 5 TDs , and returned 59 punts for 597 yards ( fellow NFL players Vince Ferragamo , James Scott and David Overstreet were team mates . ) He returned to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons in 1982 . In 1983 , he doubled as a full - time kick returner , where he scored his sixth career touchdown on a punt return , and starting wide receiver , leading the team in receptions . Johnson earned his third Pro Bowl berth that season . He missed most of 1984 due to injury , and was benched as a return man in 1985 . However , he led the Falcons in receptions and receiving yards that season . Another injury in 1986 was the beginning of the end for Johnson , and he retired after the 1987 season , although he briefly un - retired to play one game for the Washington Redskins in 1988 . Honors . In 1994 , Johnson was selected as the punt returner on the NFL 75th Anniversary All - Time Team . His days at Widener have also earned him a selection into the College Football Hall of Fame .