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Will Anderson Jr. had high expectations since the Houston Texans traded him with the third pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he lived up to the hype.
After winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, he posted back-to-back double-digit sack seasons and is a key part of a stacked defense.
Houston’s 16.5 points per game allowed is the lowest in the league, and it once again puts them in the thick of the AFC South race.
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Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. leaves the field after defeating the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. (Trojan Taormina/Imagn Images)
Anderson was a division champion in each of his first two seasons, and his defense might be the biggest reason they can get a third.
The third-year star gives all the credit to his head coach, former linebacker DeMeco Ryans.
“It’s a testament to Coach DeMeco and the culture that he brought here and the culture that he built,” Anderson told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview. “The way he’s played defense and the way he expects his defense to be played, he’s brought people here, from the coaches to the players, that can run the defense that he wants to run. It’s just a testament to the guys that he’s brought in, we all get along really well, we share the same mentality, and when you share the same mentality, good things happen.”
Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a Seattle Seahawks fumble in the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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Anderson hopes to bring positive vibes to the field from his help in the community. With the help of Raising Cane’s, he participated in a Boys and Girls Club in Houston to deliver bikes and helmets to celebrate the holiday season.
“It’s a blessing and I thank God, man. He blessed me with this platform and to be able to be a servant and give back to my community. Single-parent households, two-parent households, grandparents raising kids, whatever, man. Everybody needs to feel some love this Christmas season. So to be able to partner with Raising Cane’s and the Boys & Girls Club, it’s just a blessed feeling,” Anderson said.
“I remember my first bike and I wanted the opportunity to help these kids get their first bike. I have a whole bunch of nieces and nephews, so it was awesome to see all the smiles and joy and mirth on the faces of all the kids as they picked up their new bikes and rode them around the gym.”
A division win would surely bring even more smiles to the faces of these same kids, and the home stretch begins this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Will Anderson Jr. partnered with Raising Cane’s to distribute giveaways at a local Boys and Girls Club. (raising the cane)
“It’s a blessing to be a part of this playoff campaign,” he said. “I’m very excited about the challenge ahead of us. We’ve just got to continue to execute the fundamentals, man, taking it one day at a time. Continue to play our trademark football and just raise our level of who we are as a team, and just play to our standards.”
