Justin Houston

At 35 years old, Justin Houston has this physical status:

Justin Donovan Houston (born January 21, 1989) is an American football defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football at the University of Georgia, where he earned All-American honors, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he was also named to the All-Pro team in 2014.

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High school career

Houston attended Class AAAA Statesboro High School in Statesboro, Georgia, where he was a two-time All-Region selection and All-State honorable mention. In 2003, 2004, 2004, and 2005, he competed in three state championships. In 2005, Statesboro defeated Northside High School in the State Championship. DeAngelo Tyson, a fellow Georgia recruit, was a member of the Georgia team.

Houston, who was described as the nation's best defensive end in the 2007 class, was rated as the nation's top-ranked recruiter by Rivals.com.

College career

Houston, a sophomore at the University of Georgia in 2009, was a second-team all-SEC pick after receiving 7.5 sacks. Houston had ten sacks, leading all linebackers in the SEC, but second to Auburn's Nick Fairley, who had 11.5 sacks as part of the defensive line, as a junior and All-American, as a senior.

Professional career

Houston declared on January 15, 2011 that he did not want to miss his senior season and jump into the 2011 NFL Draft. He attended the NFL Combine and positional drills, and was successful in both drills. Houston had failed a drug test for marijuana that had been administered at the NFL Combine on April 26, 2011. Houston hosted Georgia's Pro Day on March 22, 2011, and opted for the 40-yard dash (4.61s), 20-yard dash (2.66s), and 10-yard dash (1.61s). During his pro day, he improved his times in all three drills as well as practiced positional drills.

Houston hosted pre-draft visits with several organizations, including the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Houston was expected to be a second-round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts at the end of the pre-draft process. Before failing to administer his failed drug test, he was given a late first-round pick by NFL draft analysts. According to NFL analyst Gil Brandt and Sports Illustrated, Houston was the fourth best linebacker prospect in the draft, and DraftScout.com ranked it as the fifth best linebacker.com ranked Houston as the fourth best linebacker prospect.

In the third round (70th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Houston. He was originally scheduled as a late first-round pick due to a missed drug test at the NFL Combine, and he was forced to the third round. Houston was the ninth linebacker to be drafted in 2011.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed Houston to a four-year, $2.78 million deal, with a signing bonus of $1.04 million. Houston was a starting outside linebacker during training camp against veterans Andy Studebaker and Mike Vrabel. For the regular season, head coach Todd Haley named Houston as a back-up linebacker behind starting outside linebackers Andy Studebaker and Tamba Hali.

During Houston's 41–7 loss, he made his NFL debut and first NFL appearance against the Buffalo Bills, making two solo tackles. After beating Andy Studebaker on the Chiefs' depth chart on September 13, 2011, Houston was promoted to begin outside linebacker. During a 10–3 victory over the Chicago Bears on December 4, 2011, Houston made a season-high seven solo tackles and three sacks on Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie. Caleb Hanie was fired after a nine-yard loss in the second quarter, marking the first time he had been fired in his career. The Kansas City Chiefs fired head coach Todd Haley after they fell to a 5–8 record on December 13, 2011. Romeo Crennel, the defensive coordinator, had been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season. He finished his rookie season in 2011 with 56 combined tackles (46 solo), 5.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 16 games and ten starts, along with a forced fumble. After teammates and mentors established he was the best rookie on the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011, Houston was given the Mack Lee Hill Award.

The Chiefs officially promoted Romeo Crennel to head coach on January 9, 2012. Houston's debut was scheduled as a starting weakside linebacker. To begin the season, head coach Romeo Crennel named Houston and Tamba Hali as the starting linebackers. They got off the ground with Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher, both inside linebackers.

Houston made four combined tackles, a season-high three sacks, deflected two passes, and gave his first safety of his career on September 23, 2012, when the New Orleans Saints defeated the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. During the fourth quarter, Houston fired quarterback Drew Brees for a seven-yard foul in the endzone for a safety. As the Kansas City Chiefs came back from an 18-point deficit, the Saints challenged the play and was upheld. Houston made three combined tackles, deflected a pass, and made his first interception as the Chiefs lost 38–10 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. During the first quarter, Houston intercepted a pass by Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman, which was supposed to tighten Dallas Clark, and returned it for a 45-yard gain. In a 38–3 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 17, he had a season-high nine combined tackles. After finishing the season with a 2–14 record, the Kansas City Chiefs fired head coach Romeo Crennel on December 31, 2012. Houston played in all 16 games in 2012, totaling 66 total tackles (53 solo), ten pass deflections, one forced fumble, one interception, and a safety. Houston was selected to play in the 2013 Pro Bowl as a late replacement for Von Miller, who was unable to participate due to a health scare. As he joined fellow linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, Houston made his first Pro Bowl pick of his career.

The Chiefs called ex Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid to take over as head coach on January 4, 2013. According to the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013 list, Houston was named the 49th best player in the NFL on May 30, 2013. Dallas and Tamba Hali were recalled as the starting lineup, according to defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. They began with linebackers Derrick Johnson and Akeem Jordan.

During a 26–16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on September 19, 2013, Houston made seven combined tackles, deflected three passes, and released a season-high 4.5 sacks on Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. In Week 11, he recorded a season-high ten total tackles (nine solo) and deflected a pass while the Chiefs lost 27-17 to the Denver Broncos. Houston suffered an elbow injury in Week 41-38 loss to the San Diego Chargers and remained inactive for the last five games of the season (Weeks 13-19). Houston was selected to play in the 2014 Pro Bowl on December 27, 2013. He had 44 combined tackles (40 solo), 11 interceptions, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 11 games and 11 starts in the 2013 NFL season.

With an 11–5 record and a playoff berth, the Chiefs finished second in the AFC West and landed their second spot. During a 45–44 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wildcard Game, Houston started in his first career playoff game, deflected a pass, and made one sack.

In 2014, Houston and Tamba Hali were the starting linebackers, and they were joined by linebackers Derrick Johnson and Josh Mauga. During a 34–7 victory over the St. Louis Rams on October 26, 2014, Houston quarterback Austin Davis made five solo tackles and made a season-high three sacks on him. Houston lost 29--16 against the Denver Broncos in Week 13. In Week 13, Houston had a season-high eight combined tackles, deflected two passes, and made one sack. Houston was elected to the 2015 Pro Bowl for the third straight Pro Bowl pick on December 23, 2014. Houston played in all 16 games in 2014 and finished with a career-high 69 combined tackles (60 solo), 22 sacks, five pass deflections, and four forced fumbles. Houston had 22 sacks, just shy of Michael Strahan's single season sack record of 22.5.

The Chiefs launched a non-exclusive franchise tag on Houston on March 3, 2015. He could have consulted with other teams, but the Chiefs retained the right to match any bid or receive two first-round picks as compensation. The Chiefs signed Houston to a six-year contract worth $101 million on July 15, 2015, just hours before the deadline for long-term franchise contracts was due. The deal included $52.5 million in guarantees. He played 11 games in 2015 before suffering a knee injury in Week 12 and missing the final five games of the regular season. The injury was thought to be only a hypertension, but it did require ACL surgery. Despite the injury, Houston was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl and ranked 26th by his fellow NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

After undergoing ACL surgery in February, Houston began the season on the physically inactive list. He was activated for a three-week training session one month before the regular season began. At the end of the season, the Chiefs were either to activate him or place him on injured reserve. The Chiefs decided to activate him at the end of the season. The Chiefs inactivated him on the active roster in the first game after being activated to the roster, putting him on the game's inactive list. In Week 11, Houston finally saw his first game action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with only two tackles. In Week 12, he put on a good show against the Denver Broncos, finishing the game with ten tackles and three sacks, one of which resulted in a safety and a fumble. He played five games in total, totaling 21 tackles and four sacks. Despite being on the season, Houston was still ranked 76th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

Houston finished the 2018 regular season with 37 tackles, nine sacks, five forked fumbles, and one interception, as well as one interception.

The Chiefs cut Houston after eight seasons on March 10, 2019. The Chiefs attempted to move to Houston, but they were unable to locate someone willing to make the switch.

Houston's two-year, $24 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts began on March 21, 2019.

In the season's opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston made his Colts debut against him. Houston made 4 tackles and suspended Philip Rivers once more in the 24-30 overtime loss. Houston finished 4 tackles, two tackles for injuries, and one sack in Week 5, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Houston beat the Houston Texans 2 sacks on Deshaun Watson in week 7 against the Houston Texans. Houston recovered a fumble against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 9, resulting in a safety and a victory, as well as a victory over running back Jaylen Samuels in week 9.

Houston reverted to #50 after the Colts acquired DeForest Buckner in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, his number with the Kansas City Chiefs. During Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston earned his first dismissal of the season on Gardner Minshew. During the 26-20 victory over the Houston Texans, Houston sacked Deshaun Watson three times.

Houston agreed to a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens on July 31, 2021. Houston sacked quarterback Jacoby Brissett in his 100th game against the Miami Dolphins on November 11, 2021, becoming the 37th player in NFL history to do so.

The Ravens released an unrestricted free agent tender on Houston on May 2, 2022. On July 12, 2022, he rejoined the team.

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