Weekly Awards Spotlight Special Teams of the Houston Texans

In the NFL, weekly awards typically shine a light on quarterbacks, running backs, or defensive stars—but this season, the Houston Texans have flipped the script, with their special teams unit emerging as a consistent recipient of league and divisional honors. Weekly Awards Spotlight Special Teams of the Houston Texans isn’t just a fleeting trend; it’s a testament to the unit’s precision, consistency, and game-changing impact, which have often flown under the radar in past seasons. For a Texans team fighting for a playoff spot, these awards have become more than just individual accolades—they’re a source of team pride, a reminder that success on special teams can be just as critical as offensive or defensive dominance. From clutch field goals to electrifying returns, the Texans’ special teams have turned every kick, punt, and return into an opportunity to swing momentum—and the league is taking notice.

Weekly Awards Spotlight Special Teams of the Houston Texans began in Week 8, when kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a career-defining performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fairbairn connected on all four of his field goal attempts, including a game-winning 53-yarder as time expired, to lift the Texans to a 23-20 victory. He also made both of his extra-point tries, accounting for 14 of the Texans’ 23 points—a rare feat for a kicker in a close game. The award was Fairbairn’s first since 2018, and it marked the start of a hot streak for the Texans’ special teams: in Week 11, punt returner Devin Singletary earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after returning a punt 76 yards for a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars, becoming the first Texans player to record a punt return touchdown since 2019. Singletary also added 32 yards on two other punt returns, averaging 26 yards per return—well above the NFL average of 8.2 yards. “Special teams is often called the ‘third phase’ of the game, but for us, it’s been the difference in wins and losses,” Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross said. “These awards are a recognition of the work these guys put in every day—from practice reps to film study.”

Weekly Awards Spotlight Special Teams of the Houston Texans isn’t limited to individual players; the entire unit has been recognized for its collective excellence. In Week 13, the Texans’ special teams were named NFL Special Teams Unit of the Week after a dominant performance against the Denver Broncos. The unit blocked a Broncos punt in the first quarter, which led to a Texans touchdown; held Denver’s punt return unit to just 19 total yards (an average of 3.8 yards per return); and saw Fairbairn convert three field goals, including a 51-yarder in windy conditions. What made the honor even more impressive was that the Texans’ special teams were without two key contributors—long snapper Jon Weeks (injury) and kickoff returner Dameon Pierce (rest)—forcing backups to step up. “This award says more about our depth than anything else,” Ross explained. “We have guys ready to play at a high level, even when our starters are out. That’s the mark of a great unit.” The recognition also highlighted the unit’s improvement from last season, when the Texans ranked 28th in the NFL in special teams efficiency; this season, they’ve climbed to 12th, with top-10 rankings in field goal accuracy (89.5%) and punt return average (11.3 yards).

Weekly Awards Spotlight Special Teams of the Houston Texans has been a key factor in the team’s playoff push, with the unit delivering critical plays in high-pressure moments. In Week 15, with the Texans trailing the Cleveland Browns 17-16 late in the fourth quarter, Fairbairn drilled a 54-yard field goal—his longest of the season—to give the Texans a 19-17 win. The kick earned Fairbairn his second AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award of the season, making him one of only three kickers in the NFL to win the award twice in 2024. For the Houston Texans, these clutch plays have turned special teams into a “secret weapon” in tight games: the team is 5-1 this season when its special teams unit scores at least 7 points, compared to 2-5 when it scores fewer than 7. “Special teams doesn’t get the credit it deserves, but when you win games with a last-second field goal or a punt return touchdown, it’s hard to ignore,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Our special teams guys are winners, and these awards are proof of that.” The unit’s success has also boosted team morale, with offensive and defensive players often praising their special teams counterparts in post-game interviews.

Weekly Awards Spotlight Special Teams of the Houston Texans has resonated with fans, who have embraced the unit as a symbol of the team’s overall growth. At NRG Stadium, fans now arrive early to watch special teams practice, and they’ve created a new tradition: cheering loudly whenever Fairbairn lines up for a field goal or Singletary returns a punt. Social media has been flooded with posts celebrating the unit’s awards, with fans using the hashtag #TexansSpecialTeams to share highlights and congratulate players. A local sports bar in Houston even launched a “Fairbairn Field Goal Special”—offering free appetizers whenever the kicker makes a field goal of 50 yards or more. “I’ve been a Texans fan for years, and I’ve never seen this much excitement around special teams,” said a fan from Galveston. “These guys are making every game fun, and it’s great to see them get recognized with awards.” For the Houston Texans, this fan support has been a welcome addition to the team’s home-field advantage, with opposing teams noting that the crowd noise during special teams plays often disrupts their communication. The franchise has also capitalized on the unit’s popularity, selling special “Special Teams Legacy” merchandise—including jerseys with Fairbairn’s and Singletary’s numbers—and hosting a “Special Teams Day” at a recent home game, where former Texans special teams stars were honored.

Weekly Awards Spotlight Special Teams of the Houston Texans is more than just a season-long success story—it’s a blueprint for the franchise’s future. The Texans’ front office has already indicated that re-signing key special teams players like Fairbairn and Weeks (an impending free agent) is a top priority this offseason, recognizing that a strong special teams unit can accelerate the team’s rebuild. The unit’s success has also attracted attention from other teams, with several NFL franchises reaching out to Ross for advice on building a dominant special teams unit. For the Houston Texans, the weekly awards are a reminder that excellence can come from any phase of the game—and that investing in special teams can be a smart, cost-effective way to compete in the NFL. “We’ve built our special teams unit on hard work, attention to detail, and a winning mindset,” Ross said. “These awards are just the beginning—we want to be the best special teams unit in the NFL for years to come.” As the Texans continue their playoff push, their special teams unit will remain a critical piece of the puzzle—and with more weekly awards likely on the horizon, the unit’s legacy as one of the best in franchise history is already being written.