Jon Weeks and the end of an era for the Houston Texans

Even if not completely unforeseen, this move still stuns.

By the time of this publication, the news that the Houston Texans plan to open the 2025-26 season with a new long snapper will be an accepted fact. While the trades of LT Laremy Tunsil and LG Kenyon Green generated far more headlines and coverage, the news from late Thursday night that LS Jon Weeks signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers caught quite a number of fans off-guard. Granted, Weeks played 2024-25 on another one-year contract, and as a free agent, could sign anywhere else. Yet, he’d played on one year deals for several seasons, and even after considering retirement in 2021, he did manage to return to Houston to once again serve as the long snapper for the Texans.

On one hand, the actions of a long snapper hardly qualifies as earth-shattering news in NFL terms. How many people derided the Dallas Cowboys last off-season, when after Jerry Jones issued his infamous “all-in” quip, only to have one of his few free agency moves being the signing of a long snapper? The only time one tends to hear about a long snapper for their on-field play is when a field goal or punt snap goes wayward, leading to a botched play for the team trying to kick the ball. Yes, for coaches and teams, a good long snapper is a must, as the snap to start a special teams action must be consistent at all times. However, for most rank and file fans, they likely could not pick out their team’s long snapper, even with the help of a program.

Jon Weeks measurable career stats of 33 total tackles, and one fumble recovery do not scream significant team contributor. Some players achieve those numbers over the course of a few games in one season, not in 258 regular season and post-season contests. His career best season came in 2015, when he logged eight total tackles (six solo, two assisted) and his sole fumble recovery. This, along with his long snapping, earned him his sole Pro Bowl bid.

At this point, one has to dig deeper. Jon Weeks joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Baylor in 2010, with no guarantee of making it beyond training camp. Yet, he managed to acquire a skill that while not bringing the execs from Madison Avenue calling for endorsement deals, it will impress the coaches of a roster. Thus, he won the long snapper job when training camp broke in 2010. He held on that job for the next 15 years, never missing a game, nor botching a snap.

For the youngest franchise in the NFL, Weeks offered a degree of stability in a business that is far from stable. A previous article discussed what transpired during his tenure, good and bad. Along with his on-field performance, he grew into a force in the Houston community, highlighted by his nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2023. Jon Weeks remained a constant for the team, even more so than the certainty that the Texans would always open the NFL playoffs in the first Saturday afternoon game at NRG Stadium. He even remained during the ownership transition from Bob McNair to Janice and Cal McNair.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

Yet, the is nothing permanent in the NFL, especially in the present game. The number of players that manage to spend their entire career with one team is almost none. For a while, it seemed like Weeks would do what Andre Johnson and J.J. Watt could not, as the former two spent their last two seasons playing in non-Texans’ colors. However, the NFL is a business, and as the Texans made their business decision, Weeks made his.

Oddly enough, San Francisco, before they brought in Weeks, cut their experienced long snapper Taybor Pepper at the start of free agency. Their overall special teams struggled throughout an overall rough season for San Francisco, but at least the on-field play of Pepper did not suggest an issue. Issues about confrontations came out in the wash, but perhaps the team just wanted a new start. The 49ers did not save any cap money with this move, but like the Texans, they made their business decision.

If you still wonder what the big deal about Weeks is, then consider these social media postings:

Quite a tribute for a mere long snapper. When we looked at Jon Weeks’ career last offseason, this author figured that he should be a shoe-in for a Ring of Honor slot. While Weeks will no longer finish his career in Houston, little has changed in that assessment. Even if, by some strange quirk of fate, Weeks has that first botched snap, his legacy in Houston is secure. Even if Weeks is ancient by NFL standards, he can still long snap with the best of them.

Yet, the Texans now turn their attention to Tucker Addington to see if he can fill the rather large shoes left by Jon Weeks. By the way, here is a fun trivia question for you: Who was the last long snapper before Jon Weeks? If you answered Bryan Pittman, you would be correct. He was the long snapper for the Texans from 2003 to 2009. Any guesses about who was the long snapper for the Texans’ first season? If you guessed Sean McDermott, well, then your Texans knowledge is unparalleled.

So, we must face life that Jon Weeks won’t be the long snapper for the Texans. While the bigger team concerns center of finding some offensive linemen that can block better than a standard turnstile, let us hope that we won’t regret the loss of Weeks. Especially since the idea of a bad long snap has been alien to Houston for over 15 years.