Houston Texans edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney has a big goal in mind after reuniting with his former team.
Clowney was drafted by the Texans first overall in 2014. After being traded away in 2019, he bounced around the league with multiple teams. Clowney said at a press conference Tuesday that he had opportunities to make more money elsewhere, but at this point in his career, he just wants to win a championship, and he feels the Texans have the defense that can do it.
A reporter asked him if he expected to be back when he was traded.
“No,” he said. “But I’m glad to be back. Having fun. Great team, great defense. Trying to chase that Super Bowl with the Texans. I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me, my family, just enjoying it.”
Clowney was drafted first overall by the Texans out of South Carolina in 2014. His first two seasons were marred by injury, but even when he did get on the field, he never truly showcased the talent that made him the top pick. He had his best season as a Texan in 2017, totaling 59 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries—including a 71-yard touchdown, and 2 passes defended.
In 2019, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. He spent a year in the Pacific Northwest, then signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2020. The injury bug struck again, and he only played eight games for them. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2021, then again in 2022. He joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, the Carolina Panthers in 2024, and the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.
Clowney said that getting traded forced him to grow up.
“When you go to these teams, and they don’t look at you like you’re their draft pick, you’ve got to go in there and work a little different than normal guys that have been drafted. I’ve got to go in there and take spots, take people’s jobs instead of just giving me a job,” he said.
“So, I’ve just been taking people’s jobs everywhere I go and playing at a high level because I know what’s at stake. I am not their draft pick. I’m just a guy they’re picking up. So, let me go ahead and put my foot down and show them what I got. And that’s what I’ve been doing year after year after year in my career. I hope I can continue to do that this year and help this team.”
Besides returning to the team that drafted him, Clowney provides both a veteran presence and stability in the rotation along the defensive front. The Texans are led by 2023 third overall pick Will Anderson Jr. and 11-year veteran Danielle Hunter.
“I think it’s not just about me being fresh, but Will and Danielle being fresh, too,” he said.
“Also, man, that rotation could be great when you’re going to have guys just flying off the ball and no fall off, and it looks the same as like play one. You know what I’m saying? That’s the effect. I was thinking in my head like, ‘hey, those guys can go, I can go. They need a break; I’m in there and make it look the same.’ So, we just keep putting pressure on the quarterback and giving our secondary a chance to make plays.”
In four of his seven stops, Clowney missed training camp and had to learn a playbook during the season. He decided to sign earlier so that he would have time to knock the rust off and learn the playbook before stepping onto the field.
At 33 years old, Clowney is not interested in personal accolades, and wants to win a championship before he hangs up his cleats.
“I want to win at this point,” he said. “I’ve got a taste of that, in Dallas got a taste of that, in Baltimore, thought we were going to win one. And at this point in my career, I just want to win a Super Bowl, and don’t know what I’m going to do after that. … And I think this team has a good defense and we’ll see what happens.”
