HOUSTON — Two rookie players and a rookie head coach led the Houston Texans' worst-to-first turnaround this season. And now they have some awards to show for it.
On Tuesday, Texans rookie quarterback CJ Stroud was named the Pro Football Writers of America Rookie of the Year AND Offensive Rookie of the Year for 2023. Teammate Will Anderson Jr. earned the PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Stroud, the No. 2 pick in the draft, finished the season with 4,557 passing yards (including the postseason), which is the second-most in NFL history by a rookie. He also set rookie records for passes without an interception to start a career at 192 and passing yards in a game with 470.
Anderson, who was drafted third overall in last year's draft, had 45 tackles in 15 games, 29 of which were solo. He also had seven sacks.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans was awarded, too. He earned NFL 101's 2023 AFC Coach of the Year in his first year as an NFL head coach. Ryans, who was drafted by Houston in 2006, played with the Texans through 2011 before finishing his playing career in Philadelphia. He was defensive coordinator in San Francisco for two years before coming to Houston.
More awards could be on the way for the Texans. We'll find out if Stroud, Anderson, Ryans or any of the other Texans players are honored at NFL Honors on Thursday, Feb. 8 on KHOU 11!
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