Will Anderson Jr. Is the Heartbeat of a Texans Team Poised for More
The sting of a season-ending loss never fades quickly. It lingers - especially when a team defies expectations, captures a city’s imagination, and then falls just short.
But for the Houston Texans, there’s more than enough reason to hold their heads high heading into the offseason. In fact, there’s a case to be made that this was just the beginning.
Let’s rewind. The Texans started the season 0-3.
At that point, if you had told fans they’d finish with 12 regular-season wins, notch a playoff victory, and rattle off a 10-game win streak in the process? They’d have taken that deal in a heartbeat.
This wasn’t just a turnaround - it was a statement. A young team, brimming with talent and grit, found its identity and made believers out of a league that wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Houston.
But beyond the wins, the streaks, or even the playoff run, there’s something even more encouraging for Texans fans: the leadership core forming inside that locker room. And at the center of it all is third-year edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., who just wrapped up the best season - and arguably the best game - of his NFL career.
Anderson was electric in the Texans’ final game. Three sacks.
Two forced fumbles. He was a one-man wrecking crew, doing everything in his power to keep Houston in the fight.
But when the spotlight found him postgame, Anderson didn’t bask in it. Instead, he redirected the praise to the guys around him - a move that tells you everything you need to know about the kind of leader he’s becoming.
“I would say as a whole D-line; it wasn’t about me,” Anderson said. “It was everybody rushing together, having a good time, man, and just sticking to the game plan that we had. You talk about a group that’s called themselves the engine all season long - I think we showed up.”
That’s not just a soundbite. That’s a player who understands the bigger picture.
Anderson didn’t just dominate - he elevated those around him. And that’s what makes him special.
But his leadership didn’t stop on the field. After the game, Anderson made a point to sit down with quarterback C.J.
Stroud, who had a rough outing, turning the ball over four times. It was a moment that could’ve easily spiraled into frustration or finger-pointing.
Instead, Anderson offered perspective.
“We just sat down at the locker together, man. And I’m being 100 percent honest: It’s so much bigger than football,” he said.
“All quarterbacks make mistakes. I told C.J., ‘You’re still so early in your career.
Don’t lose sight of who you are. Don’t lose sight of all the great things you’ve accomplished.’”
That’s the kind of teammate every franchise dreams of having. Anderson wasn’t just consoling a friend - he was reinforcing a culture. One built on trust, accountability, and resilience.
Anderson also made it clear that while the loss stung, it didn’t shake his belief in what this team is building.
“Obviously, wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, man,” he said. “But you talk about a team that’s built on toughness, a team that’s built on grit - we just got to keep finding a way to get over this hump. And it’s going to come.”
That’s the mindset of a team that isn’t going away. The Texans didn’t just overachieve in 2025 - they laid the foundation for something sustainable.
This group went through the fire together. They battled.
They grew. And with leaders like Will Anderson Jr. setting the tone, they’re not just hoping for a better 2026 - they’re preparing for it.
There’s no sugarcoating the pain of falling short. But if you’re a Texans fan, you’re not mourning the end - you’re anticipating what’s next. Because with a roster full of ascending talent and a locker room led by players who get it, the arrow is pointing straight up in Houston.