Houston Texans Defense on Display
The Houston Texans defense is the focus of a feature in Sports Illustrated’s annual NFL preview issue. The September issue includes a cover story centered on the team’s defensive unit. One cover showcases five defensive players: Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Jalen Pitre, Derek Stingley Jr., and Azeez Al-Shaair. The headline for this cover is “Texas-Sized Goals,” and it includes a quote from Anderson stating, “We got to win the Super Bowl with it. That’s the mission.”
Another cover features Anderson alone, positioned atop the Post Oak Hotel with the Houston skyline in the background. The article, written by Conor Orr, details how Houston assembled its defense, highlighting their ability to pressure quarterbacks and stop running backs. Orr’s story suggests the team plays at a dominant level as they pursue the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
Predictions and Past Appearances
Conor Orr, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated with over 15 years of experience covering the NFL, predicts that Houston will secure its first Super Bowl victory. This prediction involves the Texans defeating the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium in February.
This marks the fourth occasion that Houston’s football team has been featured on the cover of the magazine’s NFL preview issue. Some of these were regional covers. In 1979, Earl Campbell appeared on the cover, and the Houston Oilers subsequently lost an AFC title game to the Pittsburgh Steelers. J.J. Watt was featured in the 2015 issue, but that Texans team was shut out by the Kansas City Chiefs in a wild-card playoff game. In 2018, Deshaun Watson was on a regional cover for the NFL preview, and that team lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round.
Anderson’s Perspective and Team Goals
Will Anderson Jr., a two-time Pro Bowler, was the third-overall pick in the 2023 draft, a selection the Texans traded up to make. He has spoken about the impact of meeting Danielle Hunter, which influenced his nutritional habits. Anderson also has off-field hobbies, such as photography. He has become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson, originally from Hampton, Georgia, and a college standout at Alabama, has discussed how being in Houston has influenced him. He noted that the city welcomed him and his family, describing it as fast-paced with a focus on discipline, and highlighting the city’s nightlife and people. He also joked about adapting to the Houston heat.
Despite individual accolades, Anderson’s ultimate goal remains team-centric. He emphasized that the mission is to bring a Super Bowl to the city, an achievement that has not yet been realized by the franchise. The Texans have expressed their determination for the current season, especially after reaching the Divisional Round for the third consecutive year in 2025.
Anderson believes the Texans are close to contending for a Super Bowl. He cited a key turning point in Orr’s article, which occurred during a Week 6 team meeting. During this meeting, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair challenged the team to strive for greatness. Following this, veterans would pause drills during practice to ensure perfect execution, repeating them if necessary. Anderson recalled, “That’s when I knew. We’re close. We’re close.” In 2025, the Texans ranked first overall and second in scoring.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.