Legacy Featured in Rounds for the Houston Texans

For the Houston Texans, “rounds” are more than just stages of a game or draft—they’re opportunities to honor the franchise’s legacy, celebrate its history, and lay the groundwork for its future. Whether it’s the NFL Draft’s selection rounds, the high-stakes rounds of the playoffs, or the annual rounds of community outreach, the Texans have turned each milestone into a chance to highlight what makes their franchise unique: a commitment to excellence, a connection to the Houston community, and a respect for those who built the team’s foundation. Legacy Featured in Rounds for the Houston Texans isn’t just about recounting events; it’s about showing how each round—big or small—adds a new chapter to the Texans’ story, linking past players, current stars, and future hopefuls into a shared narrative. For fans, these rounds aren’t just moments to cheer—they’re reminders of why the Texans matter to Houston.

Legacy Featured in Rounds for the Houston Texans begins with the NFL Draft’s selection rounds, where the franchise has long used picks to honor its legacy by drafting players who embody the values of past Texans greats. A standout example came in the 2024 NFL Draft, when the Texans selected linebacker Will Anderson Jr. with the third overall pick—a choice that echoed the franchise’s 2006 selection of defensive end Mario Williams, the first pick in Texans history. Both Anderson and Williams were dominant defensive talents out of SEC schools (Alabama and North Carolina State, respectively), and both were chosen to anchor the Texans’ defense for years to come. During Anderson’s introductory press conference, general manager Nick Caserio drew the parallel explicitly: “Mario Williams laid the foundation for our defense—his work ethic, his toughness, his desire to win. Will Anderson Jr. has that same fire. When we drafted Will, we weren’t just picking a player—we were picking someone to carry on that legacy of defensive excellence.” Anderson embraced the connection, meeting with Williams ahead of his rookie season to learn about what it means to be a franchise cornerstone. “Mario told me to play for the city, not just myself,” Anderson said. “That’s the legacy I want to live up to.” For the Texans, the draft round became a bridge between past and present, ensuring the team’s defensive legacy remains unbroken.

Legacy Featured in Rounds for the Houston Texans continues with the playoff rounds, where the franchise has made a tradition of honoring alumni—turning high-stakes games into celebrations of the Texans’ history. During the 2024 AFC Wild Card Round against the Cleveland Browns, the Texans invited over 50 former players, including Hall of Fame-caliber stars like Andre Johnson (the franchise’s all-time leading receiver) and Arian Foster (its all-time leading rusher), to participate in pregame ceremonies. Johnson, who played for the Texans from 2003 to 2014, walked onto the field with current wide receiver Nico Collins before kickoff, passing a symbolic “legacy football” to Collins—a gesture meant to represent the passing of the torch from one generation of Texans receivers to the next. “That moment meant everything,” Collins said after the game, which the Texans won 24-17. “Andre is the reason I wanted to play for the Texans—he showed what it means to be a leader, on and off the field. To get that football from him? It’s a reminder that I’m not just playing for myself—I’m playing for the guys who came before me.” The playoff round also included a halftime tribute to the 2011 Texans team, the first in franchise history to make the playoffs, with members of that team joining current players on the field to cheer for the defense. For fans, the playoff round became more than a game—it was a chance to revisit the Texans’ greatest moments and see how today’s team is building on that success.

Legacy Featured in Rounds for the Houston Texans extends to the annual “Community Legacy Rounds” hosted by the Texans Foundation, which ties the franchise’s off-field impact to its long-term legacy. Each year, the foundation organizes four “rounds” of community service—focused on education, food security, youth sports, and veterans’ support—where current players, coaches, and alumni work alongside Houston residents to address local needs. In 2024, the first round (Education Round) saw quarterback C.J. Stroud and former Texans quarterback Matt Schaub visit five Houston ISD schools to donate books, laptops, and sports equipment, and lead workshops on leadership. Schaub, who played for the Texans from 2007 to 2013, emphasized the importance of linking past and present in community work: “The Texans’ legacy isn’t just about what happens on the field—it’s about what we do for Houston. When current players and alumni work together, we show the community that this team cares, now and always.” The Houston Texans track the impact of each round closely: in 2024, the four Community Legacy Rounds served over 10,000 Houston residents, donated $500,000 in resources, and inspired over 500 fans to volunteer alongside the team. For the franchise, these rounds are a way to ensure its legacy is measured not just by wins, but by the lives it touches in Houston.

Legacy Featured in Rounds for the Houston Texans includes the “Ring of Honor Nomination Rounds,” an annual process where fans, players, and staff vote on which former Texans will be inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor—a permanent tribute at NRG Stadium. The process unfolds in three rounds: a nomination round (where fans submit candidates), a selection round (where a committee of alumni and team officials narrows the list), and an induction round (where the new inductee is honored during a home game). In 2024, the inductee was defensive end J.J. Watt, who played for the Texans from 2011 to 2020 and became one of the most beloved athletes in Houston history for his on-field dominance and off-field philanthropy (including raising over $41 million for Houston after Hurricane Harvey). The induction round took place during a Week 8 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with Watt joined by his former teammates, coaches, and family for a halftime ceremony where his name and jersey number (99) were unveiled on the stadium’s upper deck. “This is the highest honor a Texan can receive,” Watt said during his speech, which was met with a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd. “But this legacy isn’t mine alone—it’s yours, Houston. Thank you for letting me be part of your story.” The Houston Texans used the nomination and induction rounds to engage fans deeply: over 100,000 fans voted in the nomination round, and the induction game drew the largest crowd of the season to NRG Stadium. For the franchise, the Ring of Honor rounds are a way to ensure its greatest legends are never forgotten—and that their values continue to guide the team.

Legacy Featured in Rounds for the Houston Texans wraps up with the “Youth Football Legacy Rounds,” a series of summer camps and clinics where current Texans players and alumni teach young athletes in Houston the fundamentals of football—along with lessons about teamwork, resilience, and respect. These rounds, which take place in six Houston neighborhoods (one for each round), are designed to pass on the Texans’ football legacy to the next generation. In 2024, the final round of camps was held in Houston’s Third Ward, a historic neighborhood that has produced many NFL players, and featured Anderson, Williams, and former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans (now the team’s head coach). Ryans, who grew up in Houston, emphasized the personal meaning of the camps: “I was one of these kids once—dreaming of playing in the NFL, dreaming of playing for the Texans. These rounds give us a chance to tell those kids that their dreams are possible, and that the Texans are here to support them.” The Houston Texans provide each camper with a free Texans jersey, a football, and a workbook on sportsmanship, and track the progress of standout athletes—some of whom have gone on to play for Houston high school teams and even receive college scholarships. For the franchise, these youth rounds are an investment in its future legacy: by inspiring young Houstonians to love football and the Texans, the team ensures its connection to the city will endure for decades. In the end, Legacy Featured in Rounds for the Houston Texans is a story about continuity—about how every round, whether it’s a draft pick, a playoff game, or a community camp, weaves the past, present, and future into a legacy that belongs to Houston.