Jadeveon Clowney became the people’s champion with one answer about his first Houston Texans stint

Returning pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney offers a hilarious recollection of how his first run with the Houston Texans ended.

Kyle Crabbs NFL National Writer
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Sep 11, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) on the sidelines in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium.
Sep 11, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) on the sidelines in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Image via Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Texans‘ latest splash is a blast from the past. The Texans inked free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney for a second go-round with the team in 2026 — and Clowney spoke to the Houston media on Tuesday.

During his press conference, he was asked about how his first run with the team ended. Clowney, of course, was the no. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and played five years with the Texans before being hit with the franchise tag and traded to Seattle in 2019. And the blame he carries for how things ended the first time doesn’t like with the city, the franchise, or the fans. Instead, he dealt a blow that will likely endear him with many as he gets back into the fray.

Houston Texans pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney just spoke for the entire fanbase regarding former head coach Bill O’Brien

“I don’t have no hard feelings, it was really just (Bill) O’Brien. (Laughter) Him (and I) bumped heads. I couldn’t really understand, because I was an easy going guy. I was like “alright, whatever you want from me!’ type of guy. Especially when I’m 21 years old, 22 years old. I was just taking people’s advice instead of really looking in the mirror and trying to figure myself out.”

— Houston Texans pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney on if he’s got hard feelings from his first time in Houston

Does anyone from Houston have fond memories of the O’Brien era with the Houston Texans? The Texans were steadily average, found lightning in a bottle with the young version of Deshaun Watson, and then O’Brien stripped down the roster amid a bid for unquestioned control. O’Brien bumped heads with with a lot of folks — not just Clowney. So from that perspective, Jadeveon has the perfect explanation for what went awry last time around. It wasn’t a Houston problem. It was a Bill problem.

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