The Cowboys, whom Jadeveon Clowney played for in 2025, were his sixth team since leaving the Texans before the 2019 season. Now the No. 1 overall pick from the 2014 draft is back for a second stint in Houston.
Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News
It’s been eight years since edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney last wore a Houston Texans jersey.
But since leaving in 2018, he’s remained in the city where he was drafted 12 years ago.
That made things easier Sunday, when he decided he was going to sign a one-year deal with the team that took him No. 1 overall in the 2014 draft, passing on several others who offered him more money and a guaranteed starting role.
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It was a decision Clowney didn’t take lightly. For Clowney, 33, it was more about his family and contributing to a team he thought he could help win a Super Bowl than it was about the money.
For the Texans, it was about improving a defensive line unit was desperately lacking depth behind its superstars Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
The Texans prefer to rotate their defensive linemen to keep their starters fresh throughout the game.
Anderson and Hunter played about 65% of the defensive snaps last year, leaving 35% to the backups. That’s a significant percentage.
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Defensive linemen Denico Autry and Derek Barnett, who served as Houston’s primary backups the past two years, along with Dylan Horton, had success in those roles. They combined for nine sacks, 12 tackles for loss and two blocked field goals in 2025.
But Autry and Barnett left in free agency, replaced by Dominique Robinson, Ali Gaye and Logan Hall — all young players with fewer games under their belts.
Those three players also combined for just three sacks last season. And through offseason workouts and the first week of training camp, none of them had done much to stand out.
The depth behind Anderson and Hunter, who combined for 27 sacks last season, was perhaps this revamped defense’s only weakness at the time.
And in the case that either Anderson or Hunter miss a game or extended time, then the Texans would lose significant production on one side.
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Jadeveon Clowney played alongside J.J. Watt for five seasons to begin his NFL career. Clowney is now back to help spell the Texans’ next generational edge rusher, Will Anderson Jr.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
The Texans’ coaching staff and front office apparently realized that and reached out to Clowney, who had mutual interest in remaining in his adopted home.
Clowney choosing the Texans at a discounted price ($5.5 million) was the best-case scenario for this team.
He was arguably the best edge rusher left in free agency.
The Texans also re-signed defensive tackle Mario Edwards, whom they released this spring as a cost-saving measure. While Edwards’ production dropped from 2024 to 2025, he was still a key rotational player along the defensive line and should continue to be.
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“We know what Mario brings,” Ryans said. “Mario brings unmatched intensity, fire and passion for football. He’s made a lot of plays for us, played a lot for us. He’s a guy you can count on. Anytime we can keep our guys around, it’s always a good day for us.”
Edwards, who did practice Monday, appeared gracious when he touched the field. He touched the Texans logo near the goal post, and took a second to bask in the moment.
Jadeveon Clowney’s stops since being traded by the Texans to Seattle in 2019.
2019: Seahawks
2020: Titans
2021-22: Browns
2023: Ravens
2024: Panthers
2025: Cowboys
As for Clowney, he was as productive as ever last season while playing for the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the year with 8 ½ sacks and 12 tackles for loss, which is more than any of the Texans’ backups last season. With Clowney, the Texans can count on him whenever Anderson and Hunter need a break.
“Everybody knows Clowney was a first overall pick here in Houston,” Ryans said Monday. “He’s been a successful player, had a successful career. He brings a physical aspect to the football game. To our defense, a guy who can get after the passer as well.
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“We’ll try to get him in, get him acclimated to what we’re doing and he’ll be up to speed off and running.”
Clowney will practice for the first time with his new team Tuesday while wearing his No. 90 jersey, the same number he wore during his first stint in Houston. Logan Hall, who was wearing the number, voluntarily conceded it for Clowney.
But this time, Clowney insists he’s a different person than the one who left Houston, having matured since then.
“I’ve grown up and learned the game a lot more since leaving,” he told the Houston Chronicle. “I feel like I can help the younger guys. I’ve learned how to lead and what it takes to get to a Super Bowl.”
Clowney gives them a better shot to get there. If you thought Houston’s defense was elite before, look at the Texans now.
It was a move Houston had to make.