<\/p>\n
After joining the Texans in an offseason trade,\u00a0David Montgomery has already stepped up as a vocal leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery (32) is shown during OTAs at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston Thursday, June 4, 2026.<\/p>\n
Melissa Phillip\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
The first memory Danny Barrett recalls of David Montomgery<\/a> was when the Houston Texans<\/a> played the Chicago Bears in 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the first play of the Bears\u2019 first possession, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky handed it off out of the shotgun to Montgomery, who ran through the hole and stiff-armed then-Texans safety Justin Reid before breaking free for an 80-yard touchdown.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI remember it like it was yesterday,\u201d said Barrett, the Texans\u2019 running backs coach and longest tenured member of the coaching staff. \u201cI was standing on the sideline and he goes 80 for a (touchdown). I go \u2018Man, OK, I like that.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cTo have the ability, first play of the game to put a dagger into a team. That\u2019s his mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n Montgomery\u2019s mindset and style of play is a huge reason the Texans\u00a0traded for him in March<\/a>. And they are hoping he, with the addition of several other pieces, can be the difference in their running game, which ranked among the bottom of the NFL last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Houston ranked 22nd out of 32 teams in rushing yards per game last season, and 29th in rushing touchdowns, last among the NFL\u2019s playoff teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Texans didn\u2019t run it much with Montgomery during minicamp, as they hoped to preserve him until training camp begins next month.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n But he showed he\u2019s been valuable in other areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat mindset, that downhill, \u2018I don\u2019t have to go around you, I\u2019m going to go through you mindset,\u2019 is something that brings a different energy to the backfield,\u201d tight end Dalton Schultz said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping that this scheme works well for him. I think he\u2019s seeing it great.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day, we brought in another leader.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n ROSTER PROJECTION: Which players will enter training camp fighting to make the roster?<\/a><\/p>\n The latter was missing from the Texans\u2019 offense in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n