Some fans might find it hard to believe, but the Houston Texans franchise is already over two decades old. Many people were unsure what to expect when the NFL returned to Houston in 2002, but the Texans have entrenched themselves as a significant part of the city’s sporting identity.
Houston has had some generational players suit up for the franchise in their relatively short existence. We’ll take a closer look at the three most significant players in the organization’s history.
J.J. Watt
We could have started with a couple of different players, but Watt’s transcendent defensive ability was enough to earn him the top spot. He was one of his era’s most devastating pass rushers and wreaked havoc even when he couldn’t get to the quarterback. Watt was a master at timing his leap to bat the quarterback’s pass down, which is frustrating for the offense when they think they have an easy completion.
Regarding getting to the quarterback, Watt brought down the opposing signal callers 101 times during his 10-year Texans career. There’s a case to be made that he was the best defensive player in the NFL during his heyday, winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards in Houston. It may be long before anyone connected with the franchise can achieve a resume like that.
DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins made some of the most incredible catches fans would ever see. Even though he didn’t always play with the most accomplished quarterbacks in his Texans career, Hopkins’ ability to come down with passes in traffic likely swung NFL betting lines when he was in his prime. Even when he appeared to be fully covered, there was a great chance Hopkins could reel in the pass.
He’s not exactly the tallest, strongest, or fastest, but Hopkins has some of the best hands fans have seen this century in the NFL. He wasn’t always quick to share his training methods for his great hands, but Hopkins did say that he spent a lot of time on training his smaller muscles in his extremities, while other players concentrate on larger muscles.
Andre Johnson
We will take it back to the franchise’s early days and give Johnson his due. He spent 12 seasons with the Texans, catching 1012 passes and 64 touchdowns. Even when the franchise struggled to find footing early on, Johnson’s physicality and determination made him a must-watch player. He’s a two-time All-Pro selection and a Pro Football Hall of Fame member.
Johnson had some incredible physical gifts, but what set him apart was his desire to be great. Current Texans head coach and former Houston player DeMeco Ryans remembered the type of example Johnson set. Ryans talked about Johnson’s focus even at practice, where he seldom ever dropped a pass. Johnson knew his habits away from the lights would help him shine when the real games began.
