The Houston Texans need to add these players to their Ring of Honor.
With a franchise as young as the Houston Texans are, there aren’t that many players to choose from as the next Ring of Honor member. As of now, there are only two members of the Ring of Honor: Andre johnson and Bob McNair.
Although there seems to be no rush to add another member, here are some names to keep an eye on. However, let’s list the honorable mentions that may make it, but are right on the edge of being a possible member.
The first honorable mention is for Jon Weeks. Weeks Is still playing with Texans as they ramp up for the upcoming season. While his position of long snapper may not be the most appealing position on the field, Weeks has been nothing but reliable in his eleven years In Houston. Making him the longest-tenured Texan while being dubbed by some fans as ” Mr. Texan”.
Another honorable mention goes to Jonathan Joseph who played for the Texans from 2011-2019. While in Houston Joseph not only put up great numbers he was the unquestioned leader of the secondary and a powerful voice in the locker room. Joseph also was a 2× Pro Bowler (2011, 2012) 2× Second-team All-Pro (2011, 2015) while donning the navy blue and red.
Let’s move on to the list of Texans who should next in line for their induction into the Ring of Honor.
Brian Cushing
Brian Cushing, The Texans Linebacker who finished third all-time in career tackles, needs to have his name added to the ring. As of now, there is only one player (Andre Johnson) and that definitely needs to change.
Cushing in his nine-year career (spent solely in Houston) was a menace to opposing teams while also being the leader of the defense. In his career, he was selected to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season of 2009. That same rookie season he won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Cushing earned Second-team All-Pro 2011, along with nine forced fumbles in his career and eight interceptions. His case is an easy one when just looking at the numbers, but there’s one thing that may prevent him from entering.
The only thing holding him back is his history with performance-enhancing drugs. While Cushing was an amazing player, one has to wonder how much of that was Cushing’s natural skill and how much of it was the PED’s?
Cushing remains a fan favorite in Houston to this day regardless of his checkered past. His case is the most intriguing one by far.
Arian Foster
Arian Foster was an undrafted gem out of the University of Tennessee. There may never be a player that goes undrafted and has the impact that Foster had on the Texans again. In his career he accomplished:
- 4 Pro Bowl selections (2010–2012, 2014)
- First-team All-Pro (2010)
- NFL rushing yards leader (2010)
- Second-team All-Pro (2011)
- 2× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2010, 2012)
Foster’s career stats are 1,476 carries for 6,527 yards and 54 touchdowns. Foster also added in over 200 catches for more than 2500 yards. Foster was a Texan from 2009-2015 and although that’s shorter than Cushing, Foster is a better choice.
Foster owes his breakout season in 2010 to former teammate and Texans fullback, Vonta Leach. Leach had a history of helping running backs become big-time stars, and his time in Houston with Foster was no different than what his efforts were with Ray Rice in Baltimore before Rice’s career went downhill.
His story is legendary in Houston and to many Foster is the third-best player in Texans history. The question will be his injury history and all the time he missed because of it. The stats speak for themselves and he’s still a fan favorite so with Foster it may not be if but when.
J.J. Watt should be in the Houston Texans RoH as soon as he retires
J.J. Watt is the hands-down most obvious choice if the Houston Texans wait until he’s retired to induct the next player. Drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Wisconsin, Watt’s career numbers speak for themselves– over 500 career tackles, 101 sacks, 61 pass breakups, and 3 touchdowns. The stats could go on and on
Along with Watt’s accomplishments of:
3× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014-15)
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2017)
5× First-team All-Pro (2012–2015, 2018)
5× Pro Bowl (2012–2015, 2018)
2× NFL sacks leader (2012, 2015)
Unanimous NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2017)
Houston Texans
There is no doubt that Watt will be in the Ring Of Honor. In the ways Watt was so good on the field, he was just as (if not better) off the field. From all the time he spent in the community to playing catch with little Texans fans before games home and on the road.
And to the enormous amount of money and aid that Watt raised following Hurricane Harvey. There’s no doubt Watt will be in the Ring of Honor whenever he hangs them up. The question becomes is he the next member?
One can make a case for all of these players to make it into the Texans Ring Of Honor. They are all fantastic in their own right and deserving of recognition some more than others. Out of all these candidates, the only one shoo-in is Watt.
As long as these players make it in some time down the road, then the Houston Texans Ring of Honor committee will have gotten it right.