The Houston Texans are the youngest team in the league, but that doesn’t mean you remember these 5 players.
For the Houston Texans and their fans, their existence up to this point has been a rollercoaster. With only so much success, many players have come and gone. Some departures (especially in recent years) have just left many fans scratching their heads.
The others who may not be remembered as well are the reason this list was made. These are 5 forgotten Houston Texans players that you’re going to have to dig way back into your memory bank to see if you remember.
This list features a current starting QB for another team, a pro bowl corner in the Texans’ early years, a journeyman defensive end that won a Super Bowl, a fullback that made an impact during his time with the team, and finally a quarterback that was acquired to play…safety?
If you remember these guys then you deserve a pat on the back. If not, don’t worry! There’s a reason they’ve slipped from your mind. Here’s the list in no particular order.
Remember Taylor Heinicke’s time with the Houston Texans?
Late in the 2017 season, Heinicke was signed to the Texans practice squad to back up T.J. Yates who was the current starter at that time. Heinicke later started against the Pittsburgh Steelers that year, serving as his NFL debut.
Heinicke only had one pass completion before being knocked out of the game with a concussion. The irony is that Yates had just cleared that protocol, so it was a vicious cycle for these two QB’s during that time.
Heinicke then withstood a cut/sign/cut from the team before making his way to Carolina and did a decent job keeping the team close in games (minus a 52-21 loss to the Steelers) despite posting a 1-5 record as a starter.
Of course, NFL fans know that Heinicke stepped in for the injured Alex Smith this past season in Washington and had the game of his life, taking the eventual Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the limit in the wild card round, arguably the best anyone played the Buccaneers the entire postseason.
It would be interesting to see if he developed the way he did and actually stay in Houston. The team could sure use him right now.
Jammal Lord might be the definitive forgotten Houston Texans player ever
Jammal Lord- what a good name for football, isn’t it? Imagine if he threw Hail Mary’s! Getting into Lord’s career in the NFL, he entered the league in the 2004 draft as a sixth-round pick. The dual-threat quarterback from Nebraska stood a solid 6’2″ and 215 pounds.
Known more for his ability to dash through the defense on the ground than his aerial prowess, Lord put up respectable numbers for his style of play. While he ended up throwing more interceptions than touchdowns in his career, it doesn’t really make sense why the team wanted to switch him to the DB/safety position.
Whatever the reason is (no articles exist on the internet why), he only wound up appearing in one game for the Texans and was later waived by the team. Lord has been spotted working in the oil fields of North Dakota as of late.
In the video game ESPN NFL 2K6, he is one of the best running backs (imagine a QB/RB/S combo in real life) you can sign to your team for a very cheap deal in franchise mode. Don’t let the numbers fool you, he can be productive as a one-two punch on the ground.
Aaron Glenn made an instant impact for the Houston Texans in 2002
For a franchise looking to get off on the right foot, Aaron Glenn made sure he played his part. In his 2002 season, Glenn had 5 interceptions for over 150 return yards, and 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns. He also added 67 combined tackles to help out the fledgling Texans.
Glenn was selected in the team’s expansion draft and was one of the first two Texans to be named to the Pro Bowl (the other was Gary Walker). Drafted way back in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft by the New York Jets, Glenn made the most out of his time in Houston. His contract became an issue and was later let go after the 2004 season.
Glenn went on to play for Dallas, Jacksonville, and New Orleans afterward. In 2010, after he had been away from Houston for 5 years, he signed a one-day contract and retired as a Houston Texan. That goes to show you how much Houston had an impact on his career as opposed to his time with the Jets.
Antonio Smith formed a great pass rush duo for the Houston Texans
Antonio Smith was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2004 and was one of the reasons the Cardinals appeared in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa. When he surprisingly chose to leave the defending NFC Champions and sign with the Texans, it didn’t make much sense at the time.
Smith had been through some terrible Arizona years and then just minutes away from a Super Bowl Title. But a 5 year, $35M contract will be enough to make anyone sign somewhere else after making less than $1M per season.
His 2011 season was his lone Pro Bowl selection of his career, and the Texans later let him walk after the 2013 season. Smith did form a great duo with J.J. Watt. Smith lucked into being on the Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 championship team.
Smith signed a one-year deal with the Texans and hardly played in 2016, and was out of the league by end of the year.
Vonta Leach helped the Houston Texans and Arian Foster greatly in 2010
Originally entering the league with the Green Bay Packers, Leach was used sparingly- but he did catch Aaron Rodgers’ first NFL throw (how’s that for some trivia?). When Leach was signed in 2006, he had over 100 yards rushing in each of his first three years.
The only reason he stayed in Houston was that the Texans matched a contract offer from the New York Giants and the rest is history. In 2010, he earned a Pro Bowl selection, the first of three straight in his career. Leach was also the catalyst that led to Arian Foster’s 1600-yard rushing season, and without Leach, it still would’ve been possible, but much harder.
Leach additionally helped spark Ray Rice’s success (before his terrible elevator incident) and won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens. Leach retired as a Raven in 2019 after being out of the league after the 2013 season.