For Texans star, Morton Ranch alum Danielle Hunter, theres nothing like playing for his hometown NFL team
For Danielle Hunter, the Texans significant investment in him is more than the business of football.It means everything to Hunter to be able to play and be valued so highly by his hometown football team.At Morton Ranch in Katy, Hunter emerged as a blue-chip LSU football recruit who doubled as an extremely fast 400-meter runner who also excelled in the high jump.The Texans hammered out a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension for the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter that includes a $30.7 million signing bonus this spring.Hunter has a $30.2 million base salary in 2027 that is fully guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap and annual $500,000 per game active roster bonus totals. Hunter previously signed a two-year, $55.1 million extension through the 2026 season with $54.1 million of that fully guaranteed. Now, Hunter is under contract through the 2027 season.It means a lot to be able to come back for another year, playing for the hometown, being able to play in front of people I love, people I grew up with in the city that I really care for, Hunter said during the Texans minicamp. It shows that this organization really values me as a person and as a player. It just leaves me to do my part, go out there and keep handling business.Hunter looks like hes built out of granite. His chiseled muscles pop out of his uniform. His biceps are softball-sized. Hunter finished third in the NFL as he recorded 15 sacks last season at the primary measuring stick statistical category for defensive ends. He tends to be quiet and understated most of the time.Hunter chooses his words carefully and is the opposite of a self-promoter. He doesnt talk himself up at all and consistently deflects praise to his teammates and coaches and discusses team goals and accomplishments. Hes a Quiet Storm type. They call him Cyborg.And Hunter works tirelessly to achieve a goal thats been unreached by him when he was with the Minnesota Vikings and for a Texans franchise that has lost three consecutive AFC divisional round playoffs games: reaching and winning a Super Bowl.Each year I just start over, Hunter said. I start from the fundamentals and just work my way back up. The biggest thing in my career is that, I really want to go to the final game. That can only happen if I pass the knowledge that I have along to the team, my teammates, defensive line room and everybody else, so that we can all play together and have that confidence to make it to the final game.For that to happen, the Texans offense needs to approach the gold standard of the Texans absolutely loaded defense.Hunter is seeing signs of progress, including quarterback C.J. Stroud.The few days Ive been here, Ive noticed a lot from the offensive line and the quarterback play, how they work together in sync, Hunter said. Its definitely better across the offensive line and C.J. just having his pocket awareness, hes able to step up and make plays. I just got finished talking to C.J., telling him hes doing a good job of stepping up and having awareness of the edge rushers. He was complimenting us back and how we play together as a string, but definitely across the offensive line and C.J. just making his reads.Hunters skills leave teammates wowed.With a low-key personality and a humble approach to football and life, Hunter doesnt beat his chest with pride.Hunter has run the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds with a 36 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-10 broad jump and has bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times. He has every physical trait an NFL team could cover in a pass rusher.Whether its the Euro step, spin move, cross-chop, bull-rush, swim move or just a pure speed rush, Hunter, 30, is a dominant force whatever move he chooses to employ on any given snap or Sunday. Hes at the peak of his game and physical ability.One of the smartest investments that Texans general manager Nick Caserio has made was signing Hunter and extending him.Lots of pass rushers are long-armed, tall and fast like Hunter.Few can match his imagination and intellect. His vision for creative moves and his passion for the game, relentlessly chasing down quarterbacks are rare traits.Figuring out how to generate explosiveness off the football and time up the snap count without jumping offsides is another plus for Hunter.The biggest thing is I just go by getting off the ball, Hunter said. Me being a vet, I know how to dissect my guy. The biggest thing I do out there is dissect my guy.Spoken like a true surgeon at his craft.Does he have a favorite move? Not really. Whatever gets him into the backfield and reaching his destination, zeroing in to apply heat on the quarterback, at the top of his rush.Not really, Hunter said. My best thing is to just go. Find a way. Whatever your God gives you, adapt and find a way to the quarterback. Just doing what I can do to get better.Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is simply glad that he doesnt have to compete against Hunter.And he marvels at how Hunter engulfs quarterbacks. He rarely draws holding calls, too. That reminds Stroud of how NBA superstar LeBron James doesnt always get the calls in his favor.That dude is special, man, Stroud said. I think, honestly, like who he is at practice too helps us as a team. He dont take no plays off. I think that is just iron sharpening iron, Proverbs 20:17 is one of DeMecos mottos: Iron sharpens iron, and so does another man sharpening another. In the world. You can do it in football as well. Who he is on Sundays, is who he is during the week. No surprise, but I got to watch little more this week, which was amazing.I even feel like against a couple other teams, he is getting held a lot. There is no calls. His presence is felt. Now, I understand why LeBron got so many foul calls until he became a Laker. Now, I see why he gets so many fouls is that he is so dominant, and you have to hold him or you have to do something to stop a fast break. Same thing with Danielle. He is so dominant that you have to do something to chip him or do something to knock him off his game. Im not saying hes LeBron, but hes up there though, for sure.Hunter has posted 14 or more sacks four times in his career, becoming the 13th player in NFL history to accomplish the feat.The tandem with All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is arguably the best in the league.Cyborg, man, hes also physical and relentless, but a little bit more methodical, a little bit more unorthodox, Texans defensive line coach Rod Wright told KPRC 2 last season. Hard to guess what hes going to do from play to play when it comes to rushing. Both are very disciplined when it comes to the run game. And both guys obviously present a challenge to any opposing lineman theyre going against.With D-Hunt, hes been there, done that. Seen it all, doesnt overreact to anything. Very calm demeanor, kind of the Yin and Yang type of deal. Both have a presence about them, but its very different. Dont sleep on Danielles personality. Really funny guy, likes to have fun as well. Got to behind closed doors, though. If you dont really know him, hes kind of a more reserved type of guy.Hunter, profiled last season by KPRC 2 for his passion for fashion and wardrobe of custom suits designed by the Gentlemans Playbook, is a sharp dressed man who chooses his game fits carefully with his personal stylist.Hes put together, Wright said. He had a leather jacket this past weekend, I told him: Make sure I get one in my size. He doesnt need it. He probably has about 10 of them.Hunter, 31, has 114 1/2 sacks in the regular season. Hunter earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week last season as he posted a career-high-tying 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and one forced fumble.With a rare and incredible blend of speed, power and precision, Hunter displayed in one fluid motion why hes one of the most dominant pass rushers in the game.Hunter has emerged as the master of the Euro step pass rushing move and many other strategies that have befuddled opposing linemen and the quarterbacks theyre paid handsomely to protect.Although hes a defensive lineman who represents the prototype for an NFL pass rusher, Hunter has a smooth, loose way of getting after the quarterback. His body-fat percentage is lower than most cornerbacks and wide receivers.With a super humble approach to football and life, Hunter doesnt beat his chest with pride.At 6-foot-5, 263 pounds, Hunter has run the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds with a 36 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-10 broad jump and has bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times. He has every physical trait an NFL team could cover in a pass rusher.Whether its the Euro step, spin move, cross-chop, bull-rush, swim move or just a pure speed rush, Hunter is a dominant force whatever move he chooses to employ on any given snap. Hes at the peak of his game and physical ability.I feel like hes a unique, unique athlete, Wright said. I dont know if Ive ever seen a guy like him. Hes one of a kind. Theres nothing that man can not do. I love that a lot of people dont talk about him. He doesnt want the attention. He wants the respect and he wants to win. I love that about him. Theres a humbleness about him that speaks loudly to our group, to our team. So hes exactly who he needs to be and who we need him to be.For the Texans to take the next step after going 0-7 all-time in the AFC divisional round will take a concerted team effort.Hunter likes the vibe hes seeing across the roster and throughout the building.We definitely have the team, Hunter said. We have a group of great men, we are able to have a great coach, a great front office, thats able to lead us the right way and a lot of guys that are just young and just buying into the program. I feel like thats the first step to going in the right direction.Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
Czech
English
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Italiano
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek