Battle Red Blog
Some former Texans have moved on to bigger and better things
Three players on the Kansas City Chiefs and one Philadelphia Eagle have sported the Battle Red and Deep Steel Blue in their past. All four were former draft picks of the Texans and span the entire gamut of the Houston Texans’ experience.
Today we’ll rewind the clock on each of the four players and how they got to the Super Bowl. It’s a nice little rooting interest for you during the Big Game on Sunday too.
Someday, I’ll show my kids DeAndre Hopkins highlights and tell them that this is who I grew up watching. My own budding Texans fandom emerged through the Hopkins era. I can tell you where I was when he got drafted and I sure as hell can tell you where I stood when he was traded.
Hopkins endured the quarterback carousel Houston underwent from 2013 to 2017. From Brock Osweiler to Ryan Mallett to Brian Hoyer to Case Keenum to T.J. Yates to Ryan Fitzpatrick to Case Keenum. Hopkins went through it all until he fell out of favor with former coach Bill O’Brien and was subsequently and appallingly traded to the Arizona Cardinals.
After a short stop in Tennessee, the Titans traded the wide out to the Kansas City Chiefs mid season for a 2025 fourth round pick.
Since being traded, Hopkins has recorded four touchdowns and over 40 receptions this season. However, he has been a non-factor in the two playoff games for Kansas City. Expect Hopkins to play in the Super Bowl, but he is not the same dynamic magician when he was on Houston.
Reid was the first of three third round picks in 2018, which was the draft after Houston traded up for Deshaun Watson. Reid played four season in Houston and was an impact starter on defense. He suffered several injuries which would hold him out of a handful of games each season, but when he was on the field he was one of the most consistent defensive backs Houston possessed.
Reid was ready to move on after his rookie contract expired. He set his sights to Kansas City who made him one of the highest paid safeties in the league. Kansas City has been in three straight Super Bowls with Reid leading from the secondary. He is one of the best players on their defense and has started in every regular season game. Reid is a free agent after this game and will be intriguing if he decides to return to Kansas City.
Former Texas Longhorn and Houston native Charles Omenihu is a perfect example of untapped potential being realized in another uniform.
The Texans tried to move Omenihu to defensive end and it was not a fit. Omenihu is much better playing inside as a three or four-technique rather than having to maintain an edge against the run. He also was swept up in the O’Brien...
