Texans Nation

09/05/2026

The Houston Texans enter 2026 with legitimate Super Bowl expectations, and their defense remains one of the biggest reasons why.

Houston finished 12-5 and reached the Divisional Round last season, beating Pittsburgh before falling to New England. Even when the offense struggled to find consistency, one of the NFL's best defenses repeatedly kept the Texans in position to win.

That unit was loaded with playmakers at every level, and its tackles leaders show just how much production Houston had throughout the defense.

Here were the Texans' total tackles leaders during the 2025 season:

💙 Azeez Al-Shaair — 103 tackles (48 solo)
❤️ Henry To'oTo'o — 95 tackles (42 solo)
💙 Kamari Lassiter — 91 tackles (62 solo)
❤️ Jalen Pitre — 74 tackles (43 solo)
💙 Calen Bullock — 64 tackles (44 solo)
❤️ E.J. Speed — 62 tackles (33 solo)
💙 Tommy Togiai — 59 tackles (27 solo)
❤️ Will Anderson Jr. — 54 tackles (35 solo)
💙 Danielle Hunter — 54 tackles (28 solo)

Azeez Al-Shaair led Houston with 103 total tackles, while Kamari Lassiter recorded a team-high 62 solo stops among this group. And with stars like Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter creating problems up front, the tackles leaderboard only tells part of the story.

The encouraging part for 2026 is that Houston kept its defensive core together and added more talent to an already loaded unit. One absence will be E.J. Speed, who will miss the entire season after suffering a serious quadriceps injury during the offseason.

But the expectations surrounding this defense remain extremely high. With Al-Shaair, Lassiter, Anderson, Hunter and several other key pieces returning, Houston has the talent and continuity to be one of the NFL's elite units once again.

After consecutive trips to the Divisional Round, can this defense help push the Texans even deeper into the playoffs in 2026?

💙❤️🐂

09/04/2026

Is Will Anderson Jr. due for a big year?

Micah Parsons is giving credit where it's due and believes that Will Anderson Jr. is due for a breakout year.

09/04/2026

A reported $50 million-a-year extension for C.J. Stroud is now in doubt, with GM Nick Caserio making it clear the talks won’t continue once the season begins.

What does this mean for Stroud and the Texans? Get the full breakdown in our article, shared in the comments. 👇🔗

09/04/2026

Coach Ryans believes this team is ready to show everyone what they can do as Week 1 finally approaches. 💪🔥

(via Aaron Wilson)

09/03/2026

Dominate the trenches, collapse the pocket, and set the defensive standard. 🤘⚡️

NFL.com's analyst panel predicted Will Anderson Jr. to win the 2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, securing 11 total votes. Coming off a monster start to his career, Houston’s edge-rusher is projected to lead all edge defenders in total pressures and run stops as the engine of the league's top defense.

With his explosive first step and relentless motor, #51 has all the tools to take total control every single Sunday.

The work is put in, the votes are in, and an award-winning campaign is loading. Houston, Will Anderson Jr. is about to make this season unforgettable. 🤘🏈

09/03/2026

Derek Stingley Jr. is establishing elite corner status in Houston 🏈⚡

After putting up 39 total tackles, 13 passes defensed, and five interceptions across 16 games last season, the rising superstar turned NRG Stadium into absolute lockup.

Whenever top wideouts step onto the boundary, he smothers route trees with fluid athleticism and erases explosive plays all season long.

His rare range and shutdown instincts give DeMeco Ryans an elite cornerstone on defense, transforming the Texans secondary into a complete no-fly zone.

How he helps the team is by wiping out the opponent’s primary target on every single drive, completely shifting how offenses have to scheme against Houston. 🎯✨

09/03/2026

Hannah McNair is taking on a major role in the continued growth of flag football.

The Texans' Chief Community Officer and Vice President of the Houston Texans Foundation has been named Co-Chair of the NFL's Flag Football Committee alongside Kalen Jackson. The group will help guide the continued expansion and commercialization of the sport globally.

For McNair, the new role comes after years of work helping grow girls flag football in Texas. Since the Texans launched their Girls Flag Football Program in 2023, participation has increased by more than 1,525%, with more than 270 schools and nearly 6,000 female student-athletes committed to playing in the state in 2027.

The movement could soon reach another major milestone. The Texans have been working alongside the Cowboys and other partners toward UIL sanctioning, which could pave the way for girls flag football to become a Texas high school sport beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

With flag football also preparing to make its Olympic debut in 2028, McNair now gets an opportunity to help shape the sport's growth on an even bigger stage.

❤️💙🏈

09/03/2026

The Texans' elite defense across all three levels of the field ensures there is nowhere for opposing offenses to get comfortable, ranging from their defensive line to the secondary.

The powerful tandem of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, the physical Azeez Al-Shaair, and the lockdown duo of Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter give this defense an identity built on pure, unadulterated dominance. 🛡️🔒

09/03/2026

Coach Ryans loves what he sees from Evan Brown.

Tough, physical, and leading the way up front every practice.

Let's work! 😤🧱

(via Texans Media)

09/02/2026

Tank Dell could complete one of the NFL’s most inspiring comebacks 🫡

His gruesome knee injury on December 21, 2024 brought his season to an abrupt end, and he hasn’t played a game since.

Now, Dell has been placed on IR to begin the season, but he remains determined to make it back onto the field this year. And if he does, the story could be special.

Dell already showed what he can do alongside C.J. Stroud during their rookie season, catching seven touchdowns in 11 games.

If Dell can return healthy and become a legitimate contributor to a Houston team with Super Bowl aspirations, his comeback would be about much more than simply getting back on the field.

It would be a story of perseverance, resilience and proving that a devastating injury doesn’t get to decide how your story ends.

And who knows? Maybe the finish line is NFL Honors 🏆