'It was a no-brainer!': Jadeveon Clowney excited for return to Texans

Jadeveon Clowney could have gotten paid to play elsewhere.

>He could have been paid top dollar to be a part of a rebuilding team as the anchor off the edge.

>But Clowney, who now returns to the Houston Texans after a seven-year hiatus, made it clear that returning to the place his career began made the most sense as a full-circle moment in his career.

"For sure, I was so excited," Clowney told KRPC 2 Sports' Aaron Wilson. "I had more opportunities. When I found out the Texans were interested, it was a no-brainer for me. It was comfortable for me to do that. I was excited to help the situation."

Signed to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $8 million, the 2014 No. 1 overall pick returns to Reliant Stadium with the intent of becoming a part of an already elite pass rush behind Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.

>And it's not like Clowney didn't have offers on the table. Last week, he visited the Cleveland Browns, who made an offer to bring back the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end for the new season. Cleveland wasn't the only previous team interested in Clowney, as the Seattle Seahawks also pursued his services.

>But for Clowney,  who lives in Houston with his family and trains here during the offseason, coming back and playing for DeMeco Ryans seemed like a no-brainer. It was also a family decision, so staying close to those in his camp made the call easier.

"It wasn't about the money," Clowney said. "It was about legacy and chasing a Super Bowl. I've got a lot of game left and I want to contribute."

As he enters his 13th season, the 33-year-old hasn't slowed down. Last season with the Dallas Cowboys, the former South Carolina product posted a team-leading 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games. Two years ago with the Baltimore Ravens, he recorded 9.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

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"I was looking forward to playing for DeMeco," Jadeveon Clowney said in interview with me regarding playing for the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker. "Pretty exciting coach to play for. I reached out to him and told him I wanted to play for him." https://t.co/ZrXRwOTtuo

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 2, 2026"I was looking forward to playing for DeMeco," Clowney said. "Pretty exciting coach to play for. I reached out to him and told him I wanted to play for him."

Clonwey also told Wilson he's excited to pair alongside Anderson and Hunter as the No. 3 option.

"I was excited about playing with those guys," Clowney said. "Good defense, and I can help contribute and a good chance to chase a Super Bowl. I know what it looks like. I can help this squad."

The Texans open the season against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 13.

>This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: 'It was a no-brainer!': Jadeveon Clowney excited for return to Texans