Former NFL star Andre Johnson treats needy kids to a $20K Christmas shopping spree

Andre Johnson retired from the NFL on Oct. 31 after a legendary career as a wide receiver, but his many accomplishments on the field are nothing compared to this.

Johnson took a dozen children on a Wednesday morning holiday shopping spree in the Houston area, footing a bill that came out to nearly $20,000.

Johnson played most of his career with the Houston Texans. He worked with Child Protective Services to find a dozen kids who could use a boost this holiday season, according to Houston's ABC News affiliate. He then gave the kids 80 seconds to run wild at a Toys "R" Us, promising to foot the bill for all the toys they could grab.

Here he is posing with the receipts of a purchase that reportedly came out to $19,144.58.

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Johnson told Houston's ABC 13 that his own tough background has inspired him to make this a holiday tradition for several years now.

"When you grow up in certain situations you kind of understand so, there were times when I was not able to get what I wanted for Christmas," he said. "So I know that a lot kids don't get what they want for Christmas. This idea was brought to me and I just kind of took it and ran with it."

Who knew Santa Claus once played NFL football?

Here's video from ABC 13.