Jadeveon Clowney Returns to Houston Texans After 8.5-Sack Season in Dallas

Jadeveon Clowney has agreed to rejoin the Houston Texans, bringing 66.5 career sacks back to the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2014.

Jadeveon Clowney has agreed to a contract to rejoin the Houston Texans, the franchise that originally selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. The 33-year-old pass rusher returns to Houston following a 2025 campaign with the Dallas Cowboys where he led the team with 8.5 sacks. That total included a three-sack performance during the regular-season finale against the New York Giants. Clowney, who now has 66.5 career sacks, told the Houston Chronicle that his decision to return to his home city was not about money, despite receiving multiple offers from other interested teams.

The veteran defender joins a Houston defensive front that already features two highly productive edge rushers. Last season, Will Anderson Jr. recorded 12 sacks and earned first-team All-Pro honors, while Danielle Hunter tallied 15 sacks to secure a second-team All-Pro nod. Together, Anderson and Hunter combined for 27 sacks. Clowney expressed his desire to mentor these younger players, stating he has learned what is required to reach a Super Bowl since his initial departure from the Texans following the 2018 season.

Statistical Impact and Recent Performance

During his 2025 tenure in Dallas, Clowney operated on a one-year, $3.5 million contract. The Cowboys signed him in mid-September to address the loss of productivity following the trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Clowney appeared in 13 games with six starts, missing one contest due to a hamstring injury. He finished the year with 41 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and four pass deflections. His team-high 12 tackles for loss and 33 pressures were achieved despite not playing more than 40% of defensive snaps in four of his first five games. However, his usage increased significantly down the stretch, as he played at least 42.9% of snaps in each of his final eight appearances.

History with the Houston Franchise

Clowney’s first stint in Houston lasted five seasons, during which he was named to the Pro Bowl three times and earned one second-team All-Pro selection. His time with the team ended after the Texans placed the franchise tag on him in July 2019. He was subsequently traded to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for pass rusher Barkevious Mingo, linebacker Jacob Martin, and a 2020 third-round draft pick. Since that trade, Clowney has played for the Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and the Cleveland Browns. The Browns represent the only other NFL team where Clowney spent multiple seasons, playing there from 2021 to 2022.

Free Agency and Team Fit

Before finalizing his agreement with Houston, Clowney visited the Cleveland Browns last week. Following that visit, Browns general manager Andrew Berry expressed public hope that a deal could be reached to bring the pass rusher back to Ohio. Clowney ultimately chose the Texans, citing his growth and increased understanding of the game. He noted that living in Houston made the transition an easy decision. The veteran’s 8.5 sacks last year fell just one short of his career-high mark. He now enters a locker room where he intends to provide leadership for a roster aiming for deep postseason contention. Clowney confirmed the news of his signing following initial reports from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.