The Houston Texans brought back one of their best special teams players from this past season.
Houston agreed to a one-year deal with linebacker Neville Hewitt, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The details of Hewitt’s deal have not been reported. Hewitt played almost exclusively on special teams — 366 snaps — where he led the Texans with 13 tackles.
Texans and free-agent linebacker Neville Hewitt, who led the NFL in special teams tackles last season, reached agreement on a one-year deal to return to Houston, per source. pic.twitter.com/33m2JibfdN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 27, 2024
Texans special teams coordinator called Hewitt the team’s “tone setter” this past season, his third in Houston. The Texans ranked as the No. 1 special teams unit in 2023, according Rick Gosselin
“The guy was a machine – high motor, high effort,” Ross said, per Gosselin. “He maximizes his skill set. He had a monster year.”
Hewitt joined the Texans as a free agent in 2021 after three years with the Miami Dolphins and three years with the New York Jets. He split time between the defense and special teams in 2021 before slowly moving over to special teams in a full-time role by 2023.
The Texans retained a couple of other special teams players from this past season, including return specialist Steven Sims Jr. and kick coverage specialist Eric Murray. Houston added other players to its special teams including Lonnie Johnson, Del’Shawn Phillips and Mike Ford. The Texans re-signed kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and brought in ex-Kansas City Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend.