The Texans signed linebacker and special teams ace Jake Hansen to a one-year contract extension, per a team announcement.
The deal will keep Hansen in Houston through the 2026 season for a maximum value of $3MM, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Hansen, 27, signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois in 2022. He made the 53-man roster as a rookie and appeared in 11 games with 205 snaps on defense and 148 on special teams. During the subsequent offseason, Houston brought in DeMeco Ryans as the team’s new coach, and Hansen could not carve out a role in his system.
He has only played 183 snaps on defense in the last three years, but his role on special teams has expanded. He contributes to every unit except the Texans’ kicking team, and this season, his 89.6 special teams grade and eight special teams tackles are top-10 marks in the league, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Hansen earned a total of $2.57MM in his first three seasons and re-signed with the Texans for $1.7MM this offseason, per OverTheCap. He will earn another pay bump on his new deal, and Houston will keep one of their core special teams contributors around for another year.
Special teams work isn’t the most glamorous, but it is a reliable way to stick around in the NFL. As long as Hansen stays healthy, he will likely have a job in Houston, and may be prized by other special teams-focused teams in the league.