Jadeveon Clowney is going home. The Houston Texans have agreed to terms with the veteran pass rusher, reuniting him with the franchise that made him the No. 1 overall pick back in 2014. ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime reported that Clowney confirmed the agreement, which was first surfaced by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
Clowney spent five seasons in Houston after entering the league in 2014. He left in 2019 and bounced through six different stops — Seattle, Tennessee, Cleveland, Baltimore, Carolina, and most recently Dallas — before circling back to where it all started.
The move wasn’t about chasing a bigger paycheck. Clowney told the Houston Chronicle the decision came together fast, according to NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk: “I felt like they got a good team and I can help contribute. It was a really easy decision. It wasn’t about the money.”
We have signed Jadeveon Clowney and made other roster moves. pic.twitter.com/iEOYLTd5tP
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 4, 2026
A Resurgent Season in Dallas Set Up the Reunion
Clowney isn’t walking into Houston off a down year. He didn’t even suit up for the Cowboys until Week 4 of the 2025 season, but he still finished as Dallas’s sack leader. CBS Sports notes he closed the year with a career-high three-sack outing against the Giants in Week 18, part of an 8.5-sack season — his best output since 2023.
He’s not slowing down at 33. Clowney enters 2026 with 66.5 career sacks, 120 tackles for loss, 16 forced fumbles, and 15 fumble recoveries. His three career fumble-return touchdowns are the most among any active NFL player, per CBS Sports.
| Category | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Sacks | 66.5 |
| Tackles for Loss | 120 |
| Forced Fumbles | 16 |
| Fumble Recoveries | 15 |
| Fumble-Return TDs | 3 (most among active players) |
Houston Was Weighing Other Options First
The Texans weren’t Clowney’s only stop this offseason. Bleacher Report notes he visited the Cleveland Browns and had conversations with a few other teams before ultimately choosing to head back to Houston.
He’s walking into a defense that’s already elite. The Texans finished 2025 with the NFL’s No. 1 total defense and No. 2 scoring defense, allowing 277.2 total yards and 17.4 points per game. Adding a proven pass rusher who’s still producing at a high level gives Houston another weapon off the edge heading into training camp.
Contract terms haven’t been made public. This story will be updated once financial details are confirmed.
