Over the past two seasons, the Houston Texans have become somewhat of a ‘feel good’ story around the NFL. Head Coach Demeco Ryans has resurrected the once-woeful franchise, while a gracious and god-fearing star, CJ Stroud, is the team leader. They’ve racked up some big victories, becoming one of the league’s elite teams. And, they’re considered a potential Super Bowl contender in 2024. But perhaps the perseverance of Texans Defensive End Dylan Horton defines the word ‘victory’ better than anything else.
Houston Defender Returns to Action After Cancer Battle
A Shockingly Close Call
Horton joined the Texans after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, he had an incredibly brief rookie season. Just a few games into his pro career, he received the type of medical update no one wants to hear.
in November of last year, Horton announced that he was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma in December, which entered remission in March 2024. He finished radiation treatments in May and looked to rejoin his teammates as soon as possible.
And that’s precisely what he did, registering one tackle on limited duty. He will likely stay in more of a contributor’s role for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, playing in mostly nickel and dime defensive schemes. Still, the fact that he can play at all – less than a year after being diagnosed- is an amazing story in and of itself.
As titanic as his triumph may have been, Horton kept things in perspective. He said that having the right attitude and demeanor has made all the difference for him.
“I feel like the positive attitude is everything,” he said. “Just kind of having that positivity, having it in yourself and spreading it makes it even better.”
Returning to Houston
It was an emotional day at Houston’s NRG Stadium as Horton helped the Texans (4-1) to a 23-20 win over the Bills.
“Wow, what an awesome story,” said Demeco Ryans. “For Dylan to be back after everything he has gone through, battling cancer, then to see him back on the field almost an entire year of missing football. The way he handled it and the mindset at which he handled it, he always still attacked it with a smile, he attacked it with a great attitude every single day.”
For Horton, it was a reassuring experience. But the former TCU star said that it didn’t change the fact that he and his teammates still had a job to do. It symbolized the kind of drive and determination it took for Horton to beat his illness.
“I played football, and it was fun,” Horton said after the game. “I had a great time, especially out there with my friends, my teammates, running around, making the plays we wanted to make, and we needed to make as a defense.”
Main Photo: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
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