To commemorate the 100th season in the NFL, the NFL Wire Network has been publishing top players lists for each team. The Texans, although the game’s youngest franchise, have some of the most exciting players in the game. We’ve highlighted those, along with a few from the past, to fill out a pretty strong team.
100. te c.j. fiedorowicz (2014-2017)
The former Iowa Hawkeye seemed to be the successor to Owen Daniels with 75 catches for 754 yards and six touchdowns through his first three seasons, where he only missed a total of two games. However, concussions in the 2017 season limited him to five games with 14 catches for 127 yards. Fiedorowicz’s best game was a 26-23 overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 of 2016. Fiedorowicz caught six passes for 85 yards, and the game-tying touchdown that sent the game to overtime.
99. lb akeem dent (2014-2016)
The former Atlanta Falcon came to Houston for the first season of the Bill O’Brien era and only missed five games. Dent played middle linebacker for Romeo Crennel’s defense, racking up 52 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, and three tackles for loss in that span. In the 2016 AFC divisional playoffs, what would be Dent’s last game with the Texans, he forced a fumble on a kickoff early in the second quarter that led to another Houston touchdown, giving the Texans a chance against the New England Patriots down 14-13 midway through the second quarter.
98. wr david anderson (2006-2010)
Anderson was selected in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft, which allowed him to start from the ground up in the Gary Kubiak era. The former Colorado State product’s best season for Houston was in 2009, the same year the club posted its first winning record. That year, Anderson hauled in 38 catches for 370 yards. The Texans released him after two games in 2011, so, he didn’t get to be a part of that year’s playoff run, but he was a part of the Kubiak teams that laid the foundation for the run to be possible.
97. te billy miller (2002-2004)
The former USC Trojan was late to the party, getting in on a Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos, but he was right on time to be a part of Houston sports history in renewing the NFL’s presence. Miller caught 108 passes for 1,146 yards and seven touchdowns in his 48 career games with the Texans. Miller will always be remembered for scoring the first touchdown in franchise history when he caught a 19-yard pass from rookie quarterback David Carr in the team’s inaugural game, a 19-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 8, 2002.
96. s tyrann mathieu (2018)
The Honey Badger was with the Texans for just a season, but he made a big enough impression early on his teammates that he was voted a team captain. The former Arizona Cardinal started all 16 games for Houston, collecting 89 combined tackles, 3.0 sacks, recording two interceptions, deflecting eight passes, and recovering a fumble. Mathieu was involved with the city of Houston off the field, giving back to the community. His stay was short, but Mathieu made it count.
95. dt brandon dunn (2015-present)
An underrated part of the current defensive line unit, Dunn came to Houston midway through the 2015 season after the Chicago Bears cut their 2014 undrafted free agent. The former Louisville Cardinal has produced 60 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in his 43 games with Houston. In the 2018 AFC wild-card game versus the Indianapolis Colts, Dunn stopped the bleeding with a red zone interception of quarterback Andrew Luck.
94. S bernard pollard (2009-2010)
Another player who was just two seasons away from enjoying the club’s first ever playoff run, Pollard spent 2009-10 with the Texans and manned the back end as a strong safety through 28 games, all of them starts. Pollard recorded 213 combined tackles, 4.0 sacks, 12 pass breakups, four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries, one also returned for a touchdown, in his time with the Texans. One of his best games as a Texan was on Nov. 8, 2009 when he intercepted Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning twice and tied with rookie linebacker Brian Cushing for a team-high 12 combined tackles.
93. dl christian covington (2015-2018)
When defensive ends J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney were healthy, Covington knew his role as a toady and played it beautifully. Last season, he had the best year of his career with 3.5 sacks, 15 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits through 12 games. Covington’s best game for Houston was versus the Tennessee Titans in the club’s first game after founder Bob McNair’s passing. The former Rice Owl notched 2.5 sacks in the club’s 34-17 win on Monday Night Football at NRG Stadium.
92. qb ryan fitzpatrick (2014)
The Texans went to the Ivy League in 2014 with new coach Bill O’Brien, a Brown graduate, and new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Harvard product. After failing to live up to the standards of a franchise quarterback in Buffalo and a one-season stint with the Titans, Fitzpatrick came to Houston and lost his job to Ryan Mallett over the bye week. However, an injury to Mallett allowed Fitzpatrick to return and lead Houston to a 7-6 record before he broke his leg against the Colts in a 17-10 loss. Fitzpatrick’s 95.3 rating with the Texans was the best single-season mark of his career until his stellar 2018 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
91. cb brice mccain (2009-2013)
McCain came to the Texans when all the fun began as a 2009 sixth-round pick from Utah. McCain played 72 games for the Texans from 2009-13 and collected 110 combined tackles, a half-sack, 33 pass deflections, and five interceptions. The 5-9, 190-pound defensive back was part of the first trio of corners with Kareem Jackson, drafted in the first round in 2010, and Johnathan Joseph, signed during 2011 free agency. McCain had two pass breakups in the club’s first playoff win, a 31-10 rout of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2011 AFC wild-card round.
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90. lb antwan peek (2003-2006)
The Texans drafted Peek in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft, and the former Cincinnati Bearcat grew into a decent starter for Houston. Peek’s best season was in 2005, the last of the Dom Capers era, when he started all 16 games and produced 6.0 sacks along with 46 combined tackles, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. The Texans were a 3-4 defense, but changed to a 4-3 scheme when Gary Kubiak took over the next season. Peek’s numbers dipped, and he was out of Houston the next season.
89. lb Shantee orr (2003-2007)
An undrafted linebacker from Michigan, Orr was another player who seemed to be putting it together in 2005, despite the 2-14 finish, and led the club with 7.0 sacks. However, Kubiak came in and switched the team to a 4-3, and Orr saw his production drop as a defensive end, posting 1.5 sacks in 2006. Orr’s best game for the Texans came against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13 when he recorded 3.0 sacks in a 16-15 narrow loss.
88. rb ron dayne (2006-2007)
The former “thunder” part of the “Thunder and Lightning” running back duo for the New York Giants from 2000-04 spent his final two seasons with the Texans from 2006-07. Dayne was a carryover from Kubiak’s stint with the Denver Broncos, and the former 2000 first-round pick produced 1,385 yards and 11 touchdowns in his 345 carries in 24 career games with Houston. His single-game career-high for rushing yards came on Dec. 24, 2006 for the Texans when he posted 153 yards on the Indianapolis Colts in a 27-24 win, the first in franchise history over Indianapolis.
87. g seth wand (2003-2005)
The Texans drafted Wand from Northwest Missouri State in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. Wand played 45 games for Houston, starting in 18 of them with a full complement played in 2004. Running back Domanick Williams rushed for 1,188 yards and scored 13 touchdowns behind the offensive line, and the Texans finished with an optimistic 7-9 record, third in the AFC South.
86. c mike flanagan (2006-2007)
A former Pro Bowl center for the Green Bay Packers, Flanagan joined the Texans in 2006 and was going to be a part of retooling the offensive line. Flanagan managed to play 23 games for Houston, starting in all but one of them. Ron Dayne was the leading rusher in both of those seasons, and the Texans did not have a 1,000-yard back. However, there was improvement from 2006 to 2007 as quarterback David Carr took 41 sacks and then new quarterback Matt Schaub took just 16.
85. de robaire smith (2004-2005)
The former Michigan State defensive lineman spent two seasons with the Texans from 2004-05, and produced 3.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in that span. Smith set a career high for tackles for loss in a single game when he recorded three against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 21-0 win on Dec. 26, 2004. When Kubiak came to town, Smith was lost in the shuffle as the club switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
84. te ryan griffin (2013-2018)
Since released and now with the New York Jets, Griffin did have some good times in Houston. Taken in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft, the Connecticut product was in on the last year of the Owen Daniels tenure. In 2014, the club drafted C.J. Fiedorowicz in the third round. Griffin never really got his shot to prove he could be the tight end atop the depth chart until 2018 when he was by default because the club drafted two rookies in Jordan Akins and Jordan Thomas. Griffin’s best game was when he caught eight passes for 85 yards in a 21-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 18, 2016.
83. t chris clark (2015-2017)
The Texans brought in Clark in 2015 for depth, and he ended up starting four games out of his 11 played that season. In 2016, Clark played all 16 games for the Texans and started in 14 of them. In 2017, Clark played in 10 and started in eight, and was a part of an offensive line that gave up 54 sacks that season, the second-most in the NFL. Houston had a 1,000-yard back in Lamar Miller in Clark’s second season when he started in 14 games.
82. wr André Davis (2007-2010)
The former Cleveland Brown, New England Patriot, and Buffalo Bill was electric for the Texans in 2007. Davis caught 33 passes for 583 yards and three touchdowns along with returning three punts for touchdowns that season. Davis played three full seasons with Houston from 2007-09 and caught 52 passes for 855 yards and three touchdowns in 40 games, the most he played with any team. His best game was in Week 17 of 2007 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars when he returned two punts for touchdowns in a 42-28 win.
81. t kendall lamm (2015-2018)
The undrafted free agent from Appalachian State kept finding ways to make the roster each season upon his 2015 arrival, and he finally got his shot to start along the offensive line in in 2018. Lamm played in 15 games for Houston, starting in 13. While he was a part of the 11-5 team that made the won the AFC South, he was also part of an offensive line that allowed quarterback Deshaun Watson to suffer 62 sacks, the most in the NFL. The Texans moved on from Lamm in the 2019 offseason.
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80. qb sage rosenfels (2006-2008)
The Iowa State product came to the Texans in 2007 along with Matt Schaub and ended up filling in for him for five games. The Texans went 4-1. However, when Rosenfels had to fill in for Schaub again the next season, again for five games, the Texans went 2-3. The former Miami Dolphin posted an 84.3 passer rating with Houston, the best of his career at any one of his five total stops.
79. de jason babin (2004-2006)
The Texans selected Babin with their first-round pick in the 2004 NFL draft. As has been the case for some on this list, the switch from the 3-4 to the 4-3 did no favors for Babin, at least during his Texans tenure from 2004-06. The 6-3, 267-pound edge defender produced 13.0 sacks and 25 tackles for loss in his three seasons with the club. Babin’s best game was on Dec. 18, 2005 when he recorded 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble in the Texans’ 30-19 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
78. g antoine caldwell (2009-2012)
Houston took Caldwell in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft. Coming from Alabama, Caldwell never materialized into the full-time starter a top-100 pick warrants. However, he did fill in for the Texans along the offensive line during their playoff seasons of 2011-12. In 2012, Caldwell started in six games of his 11 games played that season, and the Texans went 5-1. Caldwell was also active for the Texans’ two playoff games in the 2011 postseason.
77. cb a.j. bouye (2013-2016)
The one that got away — Bouye was an undrafted free agent who came to Houston in 2013 and became an integral part of the secondary for Romeo Crennel’s defense in his second season. Bouye recorded 137 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, six interceptions, 32 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in his 50 career games with the Texans. Houston chose to let Bouye hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent, and he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The ensuing Pro Bowl berth was a late and obvious accolade for a defensive back who had quality seasons for the Texans.
76. dt earl mitchell (2010-2013)
Houston took Mitchell in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft, and he was a solid contributor for the defense. Like most everyone, Wade Phillips taking over as defensive coordinator in 2011 really helped Mitchell blossom as he recorded 1.0 sack and tackle for loss among 59 combined tackles while playing nose tackle for the Texans in 32 games. Fun fact: every one of Mitchell’s 3.5 sacks with the Texans came in losses.
75. c/g greg mancz (2015-present)
The undrafted free agent from Toledo has embodied the “every man” spirit since he came to Houston in 2015. Mancz has filled in at guard and center, even starting all 16 games in that year the club won the AFC South and earned their first playoff win under coach Bill O’Brien. Even in being demoted in favor of Nick Martin, or passed over in favor of free agents Senio Kelemete and Zach Fulton, Mancz has always stayed ready and available.
74. c nick martin (2016-present)
The 2016 second-round pick from Notre Dame took over the center job from Mancz in 2017, and he only missed two games in the 2017 campaign. Martin has tried his hardest to help the offensive line jell, even going so far as having pool parties at his house in the offseason. Martin has taken an active part in helping the offensive line get better since it hit its nadir in the 2017 season.
73. ls jon weeks (2010-present)
Since 2010, Weeks has not missed a game for the Texans and has provided clean snaps on field goals, extra points, and punts. In 2015, he was recognized for his efforts with a Pro Bowl berth. With the former Baylor Bear taking every snap on special teams, it has given the Texans security and not having to worry about botched exchanges that ultimately prove costly.
72. rb ben tate (2010-2013)
Tate was an excellent backup to starting running back Arian Foster. Of course, that may not have been how the Texans or Tate intended it when they took him with a second round pick in the 2010 NFL draft. However, Tate broke his ankle in the first preseason game of his rookie year, and it opened up the door for Foster. In 2011, when Tate returned, he tallied 942 yards and four touchdowns on 175 carries in 15 games. His best game was in a Week 1 blowout of the Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 11, 2011 when he rushed 24 times for 116 yards and a touchdown.
71. S Quintin demps (2010-2012, 2015-2016)
Fun fact: What was so special about the 2018 Texans making the playoffs? Answer: It was the only time in Texans history the club made the postseason without Demps on the roster. In his staggered five-season career with the Texans, Demps recorded 168 combined tackles, a half-sack, nine interceptions, 24 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 50 career games.
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70. S eric brown (2002-2004)
Part of the inaugural Texans roster, Brown played in 44 games with Houston over three seasons, notching 179 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. Arguably his best game as a Texan came on Sept. 29, 2002 in a 35-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles where Brown knocked away three passes and intercepted a pass along with two combined tackles.
69. dt travis johnson (2005-2008)
A first-round pick from the 2005 NFL draft, Johnson had his best season during the Gary Kubiak years, specifically 2007 when he notched 41 combined tackles, knocked away five passes, and even had an interception through 15 games, 13 of which he started. The former Florida State product ended up leaving the Texans after the 2008 season and finished up the final two years of his career with the San Diego Chargers.
68. te joel dreessen (2007-2011)
The former New York Jet came to the Texans in 2007 and held down the fort until Owen Daniels exploded. Dreessen caught 105 passes for 1,323 yards and 13 touchdowns in 77 career games, 34 of which he started, in his five seasons with Houston. Dreessen’s best game was in the franchise’s only win over the New England Patriots to date when he caught six passes for 81 yards and a touchdown in a 34-27 win over New England on Jan. 3, 2010.
67. lb zach cunningham (2017-present)
The story is just getting started with Cunningham, but he has been a force in the middle of the linebacking corps since his 2017 arrival. Last season, the former second-round pick amassed 107 combined tackles and had an interception returned for a touchdown, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in his 14 games, all of which he started. Teamed up with Pro Bowler Benardrick McKinney, Cunningham has shown he can go sideline to sideline. If he stays with Houston, he should climb much higher by the time a Texans 150 list is compiled.
66. nt vince wilfork (2015-2016)
The former New England Patriot may have come to Houston because of his ties to defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel and the Texans fashioning themselves as the Patriots South under coach Bill O’Brien, but Wilfork did a nice job while in the AFC South. The former All-Pro missed just one game in his two seasons with the Texans, collecting 43 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, and a pass breakup. Wilfork was also a key element in helping get nose tackle D.J. Reader to take over the nose tackle spot in 2017.
65. wr will fuller (2016-present)
It is true that Fuller has not exactly lived up to his first-round billing, but if he could just have one healthy season, it would help solidify his ranking. With quarterback Deshaun Watson, Fuller has hauled in 45 catches for 782 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games together. The talent is there for Fuller, and what he has accomplished to this point with Watson shows the talent he has in spite of not playing to the standards of a first-rounder.
64. t ephraim salaam (2006-2008, 2010)
The former Denver Bronco had some good seasons with Gary Kubiak when he was the offensive coordinator for the AFC West club, which is why he was brought to Houston in 2006. Salaam played in 44 games for Houston from 2006-08, starting in 30 of them. After a one-season stint in Detroit, the club brought back Salaam in 2010 and he was active for four games. Salaam started all 16 games at left tackle in 2007 and helped fix the sack problem the Texans were having.
63. cb demarcus faggins (2002-2008)
The Texans took Faggins in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL draft. The Irving, Texas, native was not active when the Texans beat his hometown Dallas Cowboys in their first game in club history, nor was he around for the club’s first winning season in 2009. By that time, he was with the Detroit Lions. One of Faggins’ best games came on Halloween in 2004 when he returned an interception for a touchdown and had a pass breakup along with seven solo tackles in the club’s 20-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
62. dl anthony weaver (2006-2008)
The former Baltimore Raven came over to Houston in 2006, the start of the Kubiak era. While he played three seasons for the team and didn’t get to be a part of the 2009 9-7 squad that earned the franchise’s first winning season, he managed to wrap up 121 combined tackles and 1.0 sack in his 46 games for Houston, 44 of which he started. That one sack came against the Philadelphia Eagles’ Donovan McNabb in Weaver’s first game. He would never get another sack for the Texans. Weaver did manage to recover a fumble in the Texans’ first ever win over the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 24, 2006. He is now the defensive line coach for Houston and has been since 2016.
61. s c.c. brown (2005-2008)
The former UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajun came to Houston as a fifth-round pick in 2005. Over his 47 games through four seasons, Brown recorded three interceptions, 1.0 sack, 16 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and notched 254 combined tackles. In 2008, Brown played in just three games for the Texans, and he was with the New York Giants the next season before bouncing to Detroit and Jacksonville in subsequent seasons.
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60. lb zach diles (2007-10, 2014)
The Texans drafted Diles in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft, and he stuck around through the 2010 season for his first stint with the team. In 2014, Diles returned to the Texans for one game, sporting the No. 91, different from his No. 54 he wore in his previous 50 games with Houston. Diles started 12 games in his 16 played in 2009, the season the Texans posted their first winning season in franchise history. Diles’ lone career sack came on Oct. 19, 2008 against the Detroit Lions in a 28-21 win.
59. p shane lechler (2013-2018)
The Texans got ahold of Lechler after his 11-year career with the Oakland Raiders, but it was nonetheless special to have the Aggie boot from Sealy, Texas, close to home punting for the Texans. Lechler never made All-Pro or a Pro Bowl while with the Texans from 2012-17, but he did manage to lead the NFL in total punting yardage in 2017 with 4,507. The Texans cut Lechler when trimming down to their 53-man roster ahead of the 2018 season, and undrafted rookie Trevor Daniel took his place. Nonetheless, Lechler still has a special place in Texans fans’ hearts.
58. G Xavier Su’a-filo (2014-2017)
The Texans took the former UCLA Bruin in Round 2 of the 2014 NFL draft, and Su’a-Filo got a chance to assume a guard spot in 2016 when he started 15 of his 16 games played. Su’a-Filo was a part of an offensive line that helped open up running lanes for Lamar Miller, who posted a 1,000-yard season. After starting a full 16-game season for the Texans, who went 4-12, Houston didn’t re-sign Su’a-Filo, who later ended up with the Dallas Cowboys and is part of their depth.
57. S Danieal manning (2011-2014)
Manning came to the Texans at the right time, just as they were about to post back to back seasons of winning the AFC South for the first time in club history. The former Chicago Bear spent four seasons from 2011-14 playing strong safety for the Texans, recording four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, deflecting 17 passes, forcing three fumbles, recovering two, and posting 2.0 sacks through 51 games, 40 of which started.
56. Wr corey bradford (2002-2005)
The former Green Bay Packer joined the Texans for their inaugural season and led the team with 697 receiving yards. Bradford stayed around through the entire Dom Capers tenure, but it was clear when 2003 first-round pick Andre Johnson arrived on the scene that the Texans found their No. 1 wideout in Johnson. Nonetheless, Bradford had that distinction of being the team’s best receiver before the Johnson-Hopkins reign.
55. nt d.j. reader (2016-present)
The 6-3, 347-pound defensive tackle gets attention from defensive end J.J. Watt and coach Bill O’Brien. Reader took over for Vince Wilfork as the nose tackle for Romeo Crennel’s defense after his retirement. As a 2016 fifth-round pick from Clemson, Reader has produced 102 combined tackles, 4.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup in 46 career games for Houston, 37 of which were starts.
54. dl jerry deloach (2002-2005)
The Texans ended up with DeLoach in 2002 after he spent his first two seasons with Washington. He played 58 games for the Texans, starting in 36 of them, and produced 2.0 sacks along with 120 combined tackles and 11 pass breakups. DeLoach started in one game among his 11 played in 2005, the last season of the Capers era when the club finished with a 2-14 record.
53. g brandon brooks (2012-2015)
The 2012 third-round pick grew into a starting guard for the Texans during the last season of the Gary Kubiak tenure, but kept the job through the beginning of the Bill O’Brien era. Brooks was active for 50 games for the Texans and started in 44 of them from 2013-15. Now, Brooks is with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he has made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons.
52. lb connor barwin (2009-2012)
The Texans took Barwin in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft, and Barwin had a successful season when Wade Phillips took over as defensive coordinator in 2011. Barwin produced 11.5 sacks and had seven pass breakups in 16 starts. He managed to get out of town just in the nick of time as he was with the Philadelphia Eagles when things fell apart for Kubiak and Phillips in the 2013 campaign. Barwin had five tackles and two quarterback hits in the Texans’ two playoff games in their first postseason in 2011.
51. wr jabar gaffney (2002-2005)
The former Florida Gator was a part of the first season in Texans history and he rode out the entire Capers era. Gaffney caught 171 passes for 2,009 yards and seven touchdowns in his 64 games for Houston, 50 of which he started. Gaffney’s best game as a Texan was on Oct. 16, 2005 when he caught 10 passes for 87 yards in a 42-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Gaffney later went on to play New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Washington, and the Miami Dolphins.
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50. rb alfred blue (2014-present)
Blue was a fan favorite during his time with the Texans from 2014-18. His most productive season was in 2015 when he filled in for an injured Arian Foster, carrying 183 times for 698 yards and two touchdowns. Mostly used as a third-down or short-yardage back, Blue only started 16 times out of his 72 games played for Houston. One of his best games was on Sept. 27, 2015 when he rushed 31 times for 139 yards and a touchdown.
49. s andre hal (2014-2018)
The former 2014 seventh-round pick from Vanderbilt seemed to have everything going his way in his career until his Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis just before training camp in 2018. Amazingly, Hal returned to the playing field and logged eight games with two starts and tied for the team-high with three interceptions that season. Hal ultimately retired after the 2018 season, but he will long be remembered for beating cancer and then returning to help Houston achieve an 11-5 record and win the AFC South.
48. g Fred weary (2002-2008)
The former third-round pick from the 2002 NFL draft played for the Texans from 2002-07, and started in 43 of his 63 games of activation. Injuries got to Weary in 2004-05 when he only played six games and started in five of them. The former Tennessee Volunteer rebounded and started in 24 games after that. Weary was a starter in the Texans’ inaugural game versus the Dallas Cowboys, a 19-10 win on Sept. 8, 2002.
47. c/g ben jones (2012-2015)
The Texans had a solid piece of their interior offensive line with Jones, who started in 43 of his full 64 games he played for Houston. Jones was a part of the 2012 offensive line that paved the way for running back Arian Foster to gain 1,424 rushing yards. Jones was the club’s starting center for all 16 games in 2015, his last year with the team. The next season, Jones would leave for the Tennessee Titans and Greg Mancz would take over at center.
46. G/t Zach Wiegert (2003-2006)
The former St. Louis Ram and Jacksonville Jaguar came to Houston and was part of the offensive line that helped Domanick Williams reach 1,031 rushing yards, the first 1,000-yard season in Texans history. Wiegert played in 49 games for Houston and started in 48 of them. The former Nebraska Cornhusker played in nine games for the Texans in his final season, the first of the Gary Kubiak era, and his 12th in the NFL.
45. rb steve slaton (2008-2011)
The Texans took Slaton in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft, and the former West Virginia product provided potential at running back with 1,282 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in his rookie year. However, that was about all he was able to do for Houston. By 2010, the Texans were finding a new running game with rookie Ben Tate and second-year back Arian Foster. The Texans waived Slaton in Week 3 of 2011.
44. dt jared crick (2012-2015)
The former 2012 fourth-round pick from Nebraska didn’t excel under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, but he did start to take off when Romeo Crennel came to Houston with new coach Bill O’Brien. Crick produced 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and batted two passes over his final two seasons with the Texans, in which he started all but one of the 32 games he played. Crick’s best game of his career was when he recorded 1.5 sacks against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 28, 2014 in a 23-17 win.
43. de gary walker (2002-2005)
The former Houston Oiler returned to his original NFL city and made the Pro Bowl during the Texans’ inaugural season with 6.5 sacks, four pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and 11 tackles for loss. Walker had two tackles for loss and 1.0 sack in the Texans’ first ever win in franchise history, a 19-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at then-Reliant Stadium. When Dom Capers was fired after 2005, Walker left too.
42. wr jacoby jones (2007-2011)
The former 2007 third-round pick was a dynamic returner for the Texans, taking a touchdown and a punt return to the house in his 75 games with Houston. Jones started to feature more in the passing game in 2009, and he recorded 109 catches for 1,511 yards and 11 touchdowns through the 2011 season. Jones was part of the first team in club history to achieve a winning record (2009) and the first team to qualify for the playoffs and win a postseason game (2011).
41. nt seth payne (2002-2005)
The former Jacksonville Jaguar came to Houston as part of the expansion, and he stayed for the entire Dom Capers tenure. Payne produced 9.0 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in his 55 games for Houston, 46 of which he started. The former Cornell product had 1.0 sack, six combined tackles, and two tackles for loss in Houston’s first ever win, a 19-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
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40. lb morlon greenwood (2005-2008)
The former Miami Dolphin came to Houston when the wheels were starting to come off the Dom Capers wagon. Greenwood missed just one game in his entire four seasons with Houston, and started in 57 of them. The 2001 third-round pick from Syracuse recorded 4.0 sacks, 15 pass breakups, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in his time with the Texans. It can be argued the Texans replaced him by drafting Brian Cushing in 2009.
39. lb jay foreman (2002-2004)
The former Buffalo Bill was part of the Texans’ inaugural roster, and Foreman managed to produce a forced fumble and eight pass breakups among 141 combined tackles in his 16 starts. Foreman was present for the first three seasons of the franchise’s existence, and missed five games in his last season with the team. In a 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots on Nov. 23, 2003, Foreman had a career-high 16 tackles.
38. dt amobi okoye (2006-2010)
The Texans drafted Okoye as a 19-year-old from Louisville in the first-round. Okoye produced 5.5 sacks as a rookie defensive tackle through 16 games, 14 of which he started. Over his career in Houston, Okoye produced 11.0 sacks, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries along with 138 combined tackles in 62 games, 58 of which he started. Okoye was not around for the Wade Phillips defense, and finished out his career with the Chicago Bears (2011-12) and Cowboys (2014).
37. cb marcus coleman (2002-2005)
Coleman was a member of the first team in club history and stayed with the organization through the entire Dom Capers era. The former New York Jet picked off seven passes in 2003, and he switched to safety in 2004 and picked off a 102-yard pass and returned it for a touchdown. Coleman played in 58 games for the Texans, starting in 54 of them. In Week 1 of the 2013 season versus the Miami Dolphins, Coleman caught a 6-yard pass in the 21-20 win.
36. s glover quin (2009-2012)
Considered by fans to be the one that got away, the Texans elected to let Quin hit free agency in the 2013 offseason and signed future Hall of Famer Ed Reed to man the back end. Quin produced 316 combined tackles, 47 pass breakups, five interceptions, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 1.0 sack in 63 games played for Houston, 60 of which he started. Quin’s best game of his career was when he picked off three passes in the Texans’ 20-0 shutout of the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 28, 2010.
35. rb lamar miller (2016-present)
The former Miami Dolphin had big shoes to fill as the feature back following the departure of Arian Foster, the best running back in franchise history. However, Miller has held forth with an average of 978 yards per season. Miller busted a 97-yard touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in 2018, which would have been the longest rush on the season if not for the Titans’ own Derrick Henry galloping 99 yards later that season. Last season was the first year Miller earned a Pro Bowl selection.
34. nt Shaun Cody (2009-2012)
The former Detroit Lion arrived in Houston as the Kubiak era was starting to heat up with the club’s first winning season in 2009 and their first AFC South title and playoff win in 2011. Cody started in 57 of his 59 career games for Houston, and collected 1.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 99 combined tackles, five pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. Cody’s best game as a Texan was on Oct. 2, 2011 when he had 1.0 sack, two combined tackles, and a tackle for loss in the team’s 17-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
33. lb kailee wong (2002-2006)
The former Minnesota Viking produced 5.5 sacks in his first season with the Texans. Wong played in 63 games, starting in 53 of them, and collected 221 combined tackles, 15.0 sacks, 33 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Wong notched a career-high 2.0 sacks against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 27, 2002 in a 21-19 win.
32. cb aaron glenn (2002-2004)
For an expansion team, the Texans had multiple Pro Bowlers in 2002, and Glenn was one of them. The former Texas A&M Aggie picked off five passes and returned two for touchdowns that season along with deflecting 18 passes. Arguably the best game of his entire 15-season career was on Dec. 8, 2002 when he returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns in a 24-6 win at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
31. k kris brown (2002-2009)
The former Pittsburgh Steelers kicker connected on 77.1% of his field goals for the Texans during his eight seasons with the team. With 25 seconds left in the game, Brown connected on a 35-yard field goal to give the Texans a 21-20 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 of 2003. Brown dropped from 87.9% in 2008 to 65.6% in his final season with Houston. Brown remains the team’s leading scorer with 767 points.
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30. G Mike brisiel (2006-2011)
The undrafted free agent from Colorado State earned his way on the practice squad in 2006, and then started four games for Houston in 2007. In 2008, Brisiel saw more playing time and started 16 games for the Texans at right guard. His last season with the team was in 2011 when he started every one of his 13 games played for Houston, paving the way for running back Arian Foster to notch a 1,000-yard season. Brisiel was part of the first team to make the playoffs in his final year with the Texans.
29. lb Brooks reed (2011-2014)
The former second-round pick notched 6.0 sacks in his rookie year, more than first-round pick J.J. Watt’s 5.5. However, that was the best sack output Reed had over his four seasons with Houston. Reed never cracked three sacks per season after that point. In the 2011 playoffs, he was a force as he produced 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, 13 combined tackles, and two tackles for loss. Reed went to the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 and has since converted to playing defensive end.
28. lb jamie sharper (2002-2004)
Sharper led the NFL in combined tackles with 164 in 2003, and he never missed a game for the Texans in his three seasons with the team. Sharper’s best game for Houston was on Dec. 8, 2002 when he notched 2.0 sacks, 11 combined tackles, and a pass breakup in the club’s 24-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sharper was part of an expansion defense that had decent veteran talent in the Dom Capers years. Sharper produced 11.5 sacks, 21 pass breakups, six forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries with Houston.
27. cb dunta robinson (2004-2009)
The former first-round pick had a promising start to his career with six interceptions, 19 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, 3.0 sacks, and 87 combined tackles in his 16 starts for Houston. It can be argued Robinson made Aaron Glenn expendable. However, Robinson never approached those numbers again his career, let alone in his remaining five seasons with the Texans. In his last season for Houston (2009), while starting all 16 games, Robinson had 64 combined tackles, nine pass breakups, and a forced fumble, a start contrast to the stat line from his rookie year.
26. ot derek newton (2011-2017)
The Texans took Newton in the seventh round from Arkansas State in the 2011 draft, and the 6-6, 315-pounder blossomed into a dependable starter for the Texans. After being active for 14 games his rookie season, Newton went on to start 62 games for the Texans from 2012-15. In 2016, Newton started in six games and tore both patellar tendons in Week 7. He could never regain his old form, and he was active for one game for the New Orleans Saints in 2018. The loss of Newton in 2016 ultimately contributed to the quagmire the Texans find themselves in along the offensive line.
25. c steve mckinney (2002-2007)
The former Indianapolis Colt came over to the Texans when the two clubs were put into the newly formed AFC South. McKinney was a reliable starter at center for the Texans, playing in four straight seasons from 2002-05. McKinney was active for 16 games in 2006, but he only started six. By 2007, McKinney was again the starting center for the Texans, but he tore his ACL three games into the new season. Houston released him, and he bounced around with the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks in 2008.
24. rb domanick davis (2003-2006)
The Texans had their triplets of quarterback David Carr, receiver Andre Johnson, and Davis, who later changed his name to Williams in 2006. The former fourth-round pick tallied two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. However, Davis was one of the casualties of the wretched 2005 season that saw Houston finish 2-14 and Dom Capers fired. Davis could never recover from the knee injury, and the club released him during the 2007 offseason. While Davis was with the Texans, he averaged 4.1 yards per carry. Davis was the back Arian Foster had to make fans forget about during his meteoric rise.
23. qb david carr (2002-2006)
The No. 1 overall pick from Oregon State had the entire hopes of a city riding on him, a city that had been abandoned by Bud Adams in 1997 when the Oilers left for Tennessee. Given the expectations, the talent around him and the division he was in – one that had a Hall of Famer in Peyton Manning – Carr gave it his best shot. His first win coming against the Dallas Cowboys is a moment sports fans in Houston will long remember. The best record he posted as a Texans starter was 7-9 in 2004. Gary Kubiak gave him a chance in 2006, but cut bait when Carr had an 11-to-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio, the third time to that point his career that ratios was lopsided.
22. g wade smith (2010-2013)
After bouncing around the Dolphins, Jets, and Chiefs to start his career, Smith found a groove with the Texans that led to 64 consecutive starts at left guard over his four-year tenure. Smith paved the way for Arian Foster to become the franchise’s best running back, and he earned the lone Pro Bowl selection of his career in 2012, when the Texans went 12-4.
21. lb benardrick mckinney (2015-present)
The former second-round pick from Mississippi State stepped up to the plate as one of the leaders of the defense in the injury-ravaged 2017 season, and the club rewarded him with a contract extension thereafter. McKinney earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2018 with seven pass breakups, an interception, and 105 tackles – just two shy from Zach Cunningham’s 107 for tying the team-high. What McKinney brings to the Texans is stability in the middle and also another leader to Romeo Crennel’s defense.
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20. wr kevin walter (2006-2012)
The former 2003 seventh-rounder for the New York Giants was a perfect complement to Andre Johnson. Walter’s best season was in 2008 when he caught 60 passes for 899 yards and eight touchdowns. Walter was also able to play long enough with the Texans that he was there for milestones such as the first winning season (2009), first playoff season, AFC South title, and playoff win (2011). Today, Walter remains in Houston and is one of the organization’s ambassadors.
19. de antonio smith (2009-2013, 2016)
The former Arizona Cardinal arrived in Houston in 2009 and was a talented enough element he was able thrive when Wade Phillips took over the reins in 2011 as defensive coordinator. Smith’s lone Pro Bowl season was 2011 when he collected 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble through 16 starts. Smith also had a sack, eight combined tackles, and three tackles for loss in the 2011 playoffs. Smith left the Texans in 2014, playing for the Oakland Raiders and later the Denver Broncos in 2015. The former 2004 fifth-round pick returned to the Texans in 2016, played 13 games for the club, and produced a half-sack.
18. ot eric winston (2006-2011)
Never a Pro Bowler, Winston was nonetheless a presence in the locker room and a key part of the Texans reaching the playoffs for the first time in club history in 2011. The Texans drafted Winston with a third-round pick from Miami, and he played in 92 games for the Texans, starting in 87 of them. Winston has served as president of the NFLPA since 2014.
17. cb kareem jackson (2010-2018)
The Texans took Jackson with their first-round pick in 2010 from Alabama. After a losing season his rookie year, Jackson became a part of the Texans’ squads that would reach the playoffs. A staple in the locker room, Jackson was one of the leaders on the defense. In 2018, he was willing to move to safety as Andre Hal was diagnosed with cancer a month before training camp. When rookie Justin Reid blossomed, Jackson then went back to playing more corner and led the team with 17 pass breakups, which were also tied with Darius Slay for the third-most in the NFL that year.
16. qb deshaun watson (2017-present)
Since the Texans drafted Watson in 2017, they’ve gone 14-9 in regular-season games he’s played compared to 1-8 when he has not. Furthermore, in 2018, he set the franchise record for single-season passer rating at 103.1. He is the first Texans quarterback to lead the club to the postseason within his first two seasons and not have to split time in that playoff-qualifying season. Watson earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2018, and he earned huge respect from his veteran teammates by playing through his rib injuries last year. When there is another list made for the 150th season of the NFL, expect Watson to be in the top five.
15. te owen daniels (2006-2013)
Houston took Daniels in the fourth round from Wisconsin, and he was a stable presence for the Texans for eight seasons. Daniels caught 385 passes for 4,617 yards and 29 touchdowns for Houston. The 6-3, 245-pound tight end was around for the first two playoff seasons for the Texans. His best game was in a 28-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 2, 2008 when he caught 11 passes for 133 yards.
14. g chester pitts (2002-2009)
Houston drafted Pitts in the second round from San Diego State, and he was a solid presence along the offensive line. In his first two seasons, he played left tackle for the Texans before being kicked inside at left guard. Domanick Williams ran behind Pitts during the 2003 and 2004 seasons when Williams posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Pitts did not miss a start until 2009 when he appeared in just two games. Knee injuries forced him to retire after just seven games with the 2010 Seattle Seahawks.
13. lb demeco ryans (2006-2011)
The former Alabama linebacker earned his only Pro Bowl selection in 2007 when he had 128 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries, one returned for a touchdown, a forced fumble, an interception, and seven pass breakups. Ryans was a force in the middle part of the Texans’ linebacker corps, but the Texans let him go after one season with new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Ryans’ best game was in his rookie season when tallied 15 combined tackles, had 1.0 sack, picked off a pass, had three pass breakups, and had a forced fumble and fumble recovery in a 23-14 win over the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 3, 2006.
12. lb whitney mercilus (2012-present)
Taken in the first round from Illinois, Mercilus has done anything and everything the coaching staff has asked. When defensive end J.J. Watt or edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney were hurt, as was the case from 2015-16, Mercilus rose to the occasion and produced 19.5 sacks over that span. In 2018, his sack numbers were a paltry 4.0, the lowest he has ever posted when playing at least 15 games in a season, but it was because the coaches had Mercilus emphasize more on stopping the run. Mercilus has also used his platform with the Texans to give back to the Houston community with his WithMerci Foundation.
11. c chris myers (2008-2014)
The former Denver Bronco was a key part of Texans taking the next step as an organization. In 2008, after starting all 16 games for the Broncos, Myers came the Houston and never missed a beat. He started every game for Houston until he was released in the 2015 offseason. Myers earned two Pro Bowl selections in 2011 and 2012, the same seasons the Texans won their first two AFC South titles and a playoff game per season. Myers was also up front blocking for most of Arian Foster’s career.
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10. lb brian cushing (2009-2017)
The former first-round pick from USC was an emotional leader for the Texans. In his rookie year, he made the Pro Bowl after starting all 16 games and picking off four passes, deflecting 10 passes, forcing two fumbles, notching 4.0 sacks, and collecting 133 combined tackles. Cushing even scored a safety that season. Even though he never returned to the Pro Bowl, Cushing was nevertheless a big part of the Texans’ success. Cushing is still in the organization as a member of the strength and conditioning staff.
9. cb johnathan joseph (2011-present)
The former Cincinnati Bengal never made the Pro Bowl until he came to Houston and played for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and then he made it each of his first two seasons. Joseph has been around since the franchise started qualifying for the playoffs, and is part of keeping the winning culture alive in the locker room. Entering his 14th NFL season, the 35-year-old knows it is a young man’s game but keeps inviting the organization to draft more cornerbacks. He’ll either teach them the Texan way, or he’ll out compete them for a starting job.
8. de/olb jadeveon clowney (2014-present)
The former No. 1 overall pick has made the Pro Bowl in each of his past three seasons. Though he has not yet posted a double-digit sack season, in 2016, Clowney took a more active role as a disruptive force on defense after defensive end J.J. Watt was lost in Week 3 of the 2016 season. Clowney had an interception, a pass breakup, and a tackle for loss in the 2016 postseason.
7. qb matt schaub (2007-2013)
Even though he has gone back to being a backup, the reality is Schaub was a franchise quarterback at one point. In 2009, he led the Texans to their first winning season with a 9-7 record, and was selected for his first Pro Bowl. Schaub had the Texans on the right track with a 7-3 record after Week 10 of the 2011, even though he was lost for the season with a broken foot. In 2012, Schaub helped Houston return to the playoffs with a 12-4 record and earned another Pro Bowl selection. The disastrous 2013 season, where Schaub went 2-6 as part of the team’s overall 2-14 record, and the firing of Gary Kubiak with three games to go was all a bad taste the Texans wanted to get rid of. Though Watson is round the corner, there are still some accomplishments Schaub managed first for the franchise.
6. de mario williams (2006-2011)
Another former No. 1 overall pick, Williams earned two Pro Bowls with the Texans and also had two double-digit sack seasons. While pundits thought the Texans were in the Reggie Bush sweepstakes, it was Williams who they drafted first overall. As the feature edge defender in Houston’s 4-3 defense, Williams had 48 sacks in five seasons. In 2011, the club hired Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator, and Williams posted 5.0 sacks, the fewest since his rookie season when he had 4.5. With Brandon Brooks and J.J. Watt as promising rookies, and Williams having ended his season on injured reserve, the team let him walk in free agency in 2012.
5. ot duane brown (2008-2017)
Even though his time with the Texans ended prematurely in a way, no offensive lineman has been able to accomplish for Houston what Brown was able to: three Pro Bowl (2012-14) selections and an All-Pro selection (2012). Brown was another part of the offensive line that paved the way for Arian Foster to have the success that he did for the Texans franchise. It is no coincidence that the Texans offensive line went into an immediate rebuild once Brown left.
4. wr deandre hopkins (2013-present)
Hopkins is arguably the best receiver in the NFL right now, but he still trails Texans Ring of Honor member Andre Johnson in catches (1,012 to 528), receiving yards (13,597 to 7,437), and receiving touchdowns (64 to 47). It is entirely possible Hopkins eclipses Johnson at some point. In terms of accolades, Hopkins has already matched Johnson’s first-team All-Pro selections with two, but he has three Pro Bowl selections to Johnson’s seven. Even if Hopkins is not able to surpass Johnson’s accomplishments, individually or with a team in the playoffs, no one is going to forget Hopkins’ contributions to the team – especially when considering, like Johnson, it was accomplished with subpar quarterback play.
3. rb arian foster (2009-2015)
The undrafted free agent from Tennessee left the Texans with 1,476 carries for 6,472 yards and 54 touchdowns, all of which are franchise records. It is true that Foster had better offensive lines than some of the other rushers in club history, but it is also true he took advantage of the opportunities present. Foster won the NFL rushing title in 2010 with 1,616 yards on 327 carries. He also notched his first of two seasons leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns (2012 was the other). The Texans released Foster, a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro selection, in the 2016 offseason.
2. wr andre johnson (2003-2014)
The former first-round pick from Miami is still the franchise leader in catches, yards, and touchdowns. The Texans inducted him into their ring of honor in 2017, and he has stayed a part of the organization in some capacity since his 2016 midseason retirement. What Johnson embodies more than anything is a focus on being the best version of yourself regardless of what is happening you. Until Matt Schaub played at a Pro Bowl level in 2009 and beyond, it would have been easy for Johnson to sulk or try to get away from Houston. Johnson stuck it out, and he continues to be involved with the organization as a special advisor to coach Bill O’Brien, the scouting department, and the front office.
1. de j.j. watt (2011-present)
It would be easy to put Johnson ahead of Watt given the former is the first player inducted into the club’s ring of honor, and Johnson was with the organization for over a decade compared to Watt, who has not even been with the club that long. However, Watt has produced three NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. He has been close on two separate occasions to breaking the single-season mark of a statistical category at his position (sacks: 2012, 2014). If Watt’s career ended today — God forbid — he would have to be the considered the greatest Texan in the club’s history. In terms of surefire Hall of Famers, Watt meets the criteria, and that is why he is No. 1.
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