The 2021 season was the Houston Texans' 20th season in the National Football League (NFL), and their only under head coach David Culley. For the first time since 2010, defensive end J. J. Watt was not on the roster, as he had signed with the Arizona Cardinals on March 5, 2021, reuniting him with former Texans teammate DeAndre Hopkins, who was traded to the Cardinals the season prior. It also was the first time since 2014 without former head coach Bill O'Brien, as he was fired just four games into the 2020 season when the Texans began 0–4.
In addition, Deshaun Watson, the starting quarterback since 2017, was inactive the entire season due to several allegations of sexual assault. Though he was never released, suspended, or placed on any reserve list, he was ruled out each week for "non-injury-related" reasons. Veteran free agent signing Tyrod Taylor and rookie Davis Mills split time as the starting quarterback in Watson's stead throughout the season. Due to injury and poor performance by Taylor, Mills would be the starting quarterback for most of the season. Mills would finish the season with 2,664 passing yards, breaking the franchise record for most passing yards in a season by a rookie quarterback.The record was later broken in 2023 by C. J. Stroud.
After winning their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Texans would go on an eight-game losing streak before winning against the Tennessee Titans in week 11. After a Week 13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Texans became the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. With a 41–29 upset victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in week 16, the Texans matched their win total from the previous season, at four.
Following the season, head coach David Culley and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly were fired. Watson would also be traded to the Cleveland Browns in the following off-season.
Offseason On January 7, 2021, the Texans hired Nick Caserio as the team's new General manager. Caserio spend 20 years with the New England Patriots. On January 29, 2021, the Texans hired Ravens assistant head coach, wide receivers coach and passing coordinator David Culley as the team's new head coach.
Signings Position Player Age 2020 team Contract QB Tyrod Taylor 32 Los Angeles Chargers 1 year, $12.5 million RB Phillip Lindsay 27 Denver Broncos 1 year, $3.5 million RB Mark Ingram II 31 Baltimore Ravens 1 year, $3 million RB Rex Burkhead 30 New England Patriots 1 year, $1.5 million WR Andre Roberts 33 Buffalo Bills 2 years, $5.95 million WR Chris Moore 28 Baltimore Ravens 1 year, $5.95 million WR Alex Erickson 28 Cincinnati Bengals 1 year, no details WR Donte Moncrief 28 New England Patriots 1 year, no details WR Chris Conley 28 Jacksonville Jaguars 1 year, no details TE Paul Quessenberry 29 New England Patriots 1 year, no details OG Justin McCray 29 Atlanta Falcons 2 years, $4 million OG Lane Taylor 31 Green Bay Packers 1 year, no details C Cole Toner 30 Los Angeles Chargers 1 year, no details C Justin Britt 30 Did not play 1 year, $5 million DT Maliek Collins 26 Las Vegas Raiders 1 year, $6 million DT Vincent Taylor 27 Cleveland Browns 1 year, $2 million LB Kevin Pierre-Louis 29 Washington Football Team 2 years, $8 million LB Jordan Jenkins 27 New York Jets 2 years, $6 million LB Christian Kirksey 29 Green Bay Packers 1 year, $4.5 million LB Kamu Grugier-Hill 27 Miami Dolphins 1 year, $3.25 million LB Joe Thomas 30 Dallas Cowboys 1 year, $2 million LB Derek Rivers 27 Los Angeles Rams 1 year, $1.3 million LB Tae Davis 25 Cleveland Browns 1 year, no details LB Hardy Nickerson Jr. 27 Minnesota Vikings 1 year, no details CB Terrance Mitchell 29 Cleveland Browns 2 years, $7.5 million CB Tavierre Thomas 25 Cleveland Browns 2 years, no details CB Desmond King 26 Tennessee Titans 1 year, $3.5 million CB Tremon Smith 25 Indianapolis Colts 1 year, $1.13 million S Terrence Brooks 29 New England Patriots 1 year, $2 million P Cameron Johnston 29 Philadelphia Eagles 3 years, $8 million
Re-signings Position Player Age Contract RB Dontrell Hilliard 26 1 year, $1.25 million RB Buddy Howell 24 1 year, no details TE Pharaoh Brown 27 1 year, $2.2 million CB Vernon Hargreaves 26 1 year, no details CB Cornell Armstrong 26 1 year, no details LS Jon Weeks 35 1 year, 1.075 million
Departures Position Player Age 2021 team QB Ryan Finley 26 TBD RB Duke Johnson 27 Jacksonville Jaguars FB Cullen Gillaspia 26 New York Giants WR Chad Hansen 26 Detroit Lions WR Steven Mitchell 26 TBD TE Darren Fells 34 Detroit Lions OG Senio Kelemete 31 San Francisco 49ers OG Zach Fulton 29 New York Giants OG Beau Benzschawel 25 Washington Football Team C Nick Martin 28 Las Vegas Raiders DE J. J. Watt 31 Arizona Cardinals DT Carlos Watkins 28 Dallas Cowboys CB Mark Fields 24 San Francisco 49ers CB Brandon Williams 28 TBD P Bryan Anger 32 Dallas Cowboys LS Anthony Kukwa 28 TBD
Trades March 17To Houston Texans Shaq Lawson WAS's 2021 sixth round pickTo Miami Dolphins Benardrick McKinney 2021 7th round pickTo Houston Texans Marcus Cannon 2021 fifth round pick DAL's 2021 sixth round pickTo New England Patriots ARI's 2021 fourth round pick 2021 sixth round pickMarch 18To Houston Texans Ryan IzzoTo New England Patriots 2022 seventh round pickMarch 19To Houston Texans Ryan Finley 2021 seventh round pickTo Cincinnati Bengals MIA's 2021 sixth round pick
Draft
NFL Top 100
NFL Network began announcing its annual top 100 list on August 15, 2021. Two players were named to the list.
Rank Player Position Change 18 Deshaun Watson Quarterback 2 75 Laremy Tunsil Offensive tackle 9
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Green Bay Packers W 26–7 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap 2 at Dallas Cowboys W 20–14 2–0 AT&T Stadium Recap 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 16–23 2–1 NRG Stadium Recap
Game summaries Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
Tyrod Taylor started at quarterback for the Texans, leading the team 57 yards downfield on his first drive, before the drive stalled at Green Bay's 19-yard line; the Texans would settle for a 37-yard field goal from Kaʻimi Fairbairn to take a 3–0 lead. This was the only drive Taylor would play, going 4-of-4 for 40 yards. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills entered the game on Houston's next drive, being sacked once and throwing an incomplete pass as the Texans went three-and-out. After the rough start, Mills would settle in and lead the Texans on two scoring drives, resulting in ten points. Late in the 2nd quarter, Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love was sacked and fumbled the ball, with Jaleel Johnson recovering for Houston at the Green Bay 17-yard line; however, Mills would throw an interception on the very next play. Mills would briefly appear in the 2nd half before Jeff Driskel took over midway in the 3rd quarter. Driskel would remain the Texans' quarterback for the rest of the game; Driskel would only complete one pass out of six attempts for 2 yards. Late in the 4th quarter, Houston cornerback Tremon Smith intercepted a Kurt Benkert pass.
The three Texans' quarterbacks finished with a combined 16/32 for 149 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys received the opening kickoff, with Houston defensive end Jacob Martin causing a fumble on the third play of the game, with Charles Omenihu recovering it for the Texans. Tyrod Taylor started at quarterback for Houston, leading the offense on a short drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run from Mark Ingram II Taylor would play for most of the 1st quarter before Davis Mills came in with 0:22 left; Taylor finished 2-of-5 for 10 yards. In the third quarter, cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. intercepted a Ben DiNucci pass and returned it 53 yards for a pick six touchdown. Shyheim Carter picked off a DiNucci pass in the 4th quarter, returning it 5 yards to the 50-yard line. Jeff Driskel took over at quarterback on the next drive, leading the team down to the red zone before the drive stalled, settling for a 24-yard field goal from Kaʻimi Fairbairn to give the Texans a 20–14 lead. Late in the 4th quarter, with the Cowboys trying to win the game, strong safety Terrence Brooks intercepted DiNucci, sealing the victory for the Texans.
The Texans only had 220 yards of offense versus the Cowboys' 308, but committed no turnovers while Dallas turned the ball over four times. The three Houston quarterbacks finished for a combined 13-of-23 for 131 yards.
Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kicker Kaʻimi Fairbairn suffered an injury during pregame warmups, with safety Justin Reid handling the kickoffs for the Texans; Reid would not attempt any field goals or extra points, with the team opting to go for it on 4th down and attempt a two-point conversion after touchdowns. Tyrod Taylor started at quarterback and played until midway of the 2nd quarter. Taylor left the game after losing a fumble on a sack, finishing 6-of-9 for 31 yards. Davis Mills would play for the rest of the game, going 10-of-27 for 106 yards with two touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Taylor and Mills finished for a combined 16-of-36 for 115 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Regular season Schedule The Texans' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 Jacksonville Jaguars W 37–21 1–0 NRG Stadium Recap 2 September 19 at Cleveland Browns L 21–31 1–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 Carolina Panthers L 9–24 1–2 NRG Stadium Recap 4 October 3 at Buffalo Bills L 0–40 1–3 Highmark Stadium Recap 5 October 10 New England Patriots L 22–25 1–4 NRG Stadium Recap 6 October 17 at Indianapolis Colts L 3–31 1–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 7 October 24 at Arizona Cardinals L 5–31 1–6 State Farm Stadium Recap 8 October 31 Los Angeles Rams L 22–38 1–7 NRG Stadium Recap 9 November 7 at Miami Dolphins L 9–17 1–8 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 10 Bye 11 November 21 at Tennessee Titans W 22–13 2–8 Nissan Stadium Recap 12 November 28 New York Jets L 14–21 2–9 NRG Stadium Recap 13 December 5 Indianapolis Colts L 0–31 2–10 NRG Stadium Recap 14 December 12 Seattle Seahawks L 13–33 2–11 NRG Stadium Recap 15 December 19 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 30–16 3–11 TIAA Bank Field Recap 16 December 26 Los Angeles Chargers W 41–29 4–11 NRG Stadium Recap 17 January 2 at San Francisco 49ers L 7–23 4–12 Levi's Stadium Recap 18 January 9 Tennessee Titans L 25–28 4–13 NRG Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Texans kicked off the 2021 season and the David Culley era at home against AFC South rival the Jacksonville Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence, the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The Texans' defense picked off Lawrence three times while the offense committed no turnovers. With the win, the Texans started 1–0 for the first time since 2016; additionally, the Texans were the only AFC South team to win during week 1.
Week 2: at Cleveland Browns
Starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a hamstring injury during the first half, with rookie Davis Mills replacing him for the second half.
Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers
Rookie quarterback Davis Mills started his first NFL game as Tyrod Taylor was still recovering from a hamstring injury. After a slow start, Mills would lead the offense on a quick scoring drive to end the half with a 1-yard pass to Anthony Miller, but kicker Joey Slye missed the extra point. The offense would continue to be inconsistent throughout the 2nd half, with Mills constantly being pressured by Carolina's defense.
Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
The Texans committed five turnovers, with quarterback Davis Mills throwing four interceptions and tight end Jordan Akins losing a fumble and only had 109 yards of total offense. The Texans were shutout for the first time since 2016. The 40 point loss is also the largest in franchise history.
Week 5: vs. New England Patriots