Sources: Clowney returns to roots, joins Texans

Jadeveon Clowney is returning to the Houston Texans, the team that selected him No. 1 overall in the 2014 NFL draft, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo on Sunday. The reunion comes after Clowney had visited the Cleveland Browns last week, prompting general manager Andrew Berry to tell reporters he was hopeful his team could strike a deal with the pass rusher. The Texans' defense already boasted two of the top pass rushers in the NFL in Will Anderson Jr. (12) and Danielle Hunter (15), who combined for 27 sacks last season and now adds Clowney, who led the Dallas Cowboys with 8.5 sacks in 2025, including three in the season finale against the New York Giants. He didn't sign with the team until mid-September and was inactive for a game before getting on the field in Week 4. In his first five games, he topped 40% playing time just once, but in each of his final eight games he played at least 42.9%, and his productivity increased. He missed one game with a hamstring injury. In 13 games (six starts), Clowney was credited with 41 tackles, a team-high 12 tackles for loss, 33 pressures, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and four pass deflections. He joined the Cowboys on a one-year, $3.5 million deal after the team struggled to replace Micah Parsons' productivity in the wake of his trade to the Green Bay Packers. Clowney's 8.5 sacks were one off his career high. Clowney has played for seven teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, where he overlapped with Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, who was Seattle's offensive coordinator at the time. Clowney, who turned 33 in February, earned rave reviews from Schottenheimer, assistant coaches and teammates for his willingness to help teach the ins and outs of the position this past season. He has 66.5 sacks in his career. ESPN's Todd Archer contributed to this report.