The Houston Texans are having a sensational 2023 season that could even end in a playoff berth.
The team sits at 8-7 and has two chances to bolster their chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Even more, the team is doing so with three first-year contributors on offense, defense and on the sideline in quarterback C.J. Stroud, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and head coach DeMeco Ryans.
A lot can happen in the final two weeks of the year, but here are the four individual awards members of the Texans organization are in contention to win.
NFL Coach of the Year
Head coach DeMeco Ryans is among the favorites to win Coach of the Year.
He’s navigated the Texans from one of the worst teams in the NFL to a playoff and AFC South contender in his first year with a fairly inexperienced coaching staff and roster.
First-time offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik built an offensive unit that went from 30th in scoring this past season to 15th this year with mostly young players – including a rookie quarterback and wideout.
The Texans defense looks much improved as well after it allowed the 27th-most points this past season. This year, Houston allows just the 17th-most (22.1 points per game). A lot of that is thanks to rookie defensive end Will Anderson, but the entire defensive line looks great with Jonathan Greenard at the forefront with 12.5 sacks. The secondary unit led Derek Stingley Jr. and Steven Nelson also looks good.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Quarterback C.J. Stroud should still win Offensive Rookie of the Year even after he missed the past two games with a concussion. He’s won more games than he’s lost, has completed 62.4 percent of his passes and thrown for 3,631 yards with 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
The competition around him shouldn’t threaten his claim, either. Fellow rookie quarterback Bryce Young certainly hasn’t played well enough to merit the award, while highly-touted running back Bijan Robinson has been thwarted by his own offense. Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua has a real chance to win, but only if he grossly outplays Stroud relative to their respective positions.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. looked like the leading contender for Defensive Player of the Year before an ankle injury cost him the past two games. He has five sacks on the season and 19 quarterback hits, which rank fourth and first among all rookies, respectively.
Normally, that would be enough to win the award, but he’ll have some stiff competition between Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
Executive of the Year
Some of the credit for the Texans’ success this season has to be attributed to general manager Nick Caserio. He likely played a pivotal role in the hiring of Ryans as well as the 2023 draft selections of Stroud, Anderson Jr. (which took a gutsy trade-up to the No. 3 pick) and third-round wide receiver Tank Dell (who had 709 receiving yards and seven touchdowns before a season-ending leg injury).
Caserio also signed some pivotal free agents during the offseason to solid deals. Tight end Dalton Schultz, running back Devin Singletary, linebacker Denzel Perryman, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and wide receiver Noah Brown were all brought in on relatively-cheap one-year deals and all have contributed to the Texans’ success.
He may not win the award if the Texans ultimately don’t make the playoffs, but Caserio’s work in 2023 has set Houston up for success in the future.
