will anderson said the Houston Texans have Super Bowl aspirations this past week, and he did not soften the message. Asked whether Houston belongs in that conversation, he answered, "Most definitely," then called the roster a group with "Super Bowl caliber players all over the field."
Anderson's Role In Houston
The timing matters because Anderson is entering his fourth season after signing a massive extension and has become one of the NFL's highest-regarded pass rushers. He is already one of the Texans' leaders, and his comments turn the team's 2026 expectations into something public rather than private.
He backed that up by pointing to the work around him. "I think the additions they went and got in the offseason have been great," Anderson said via team transcript this past week, then added, "I think what we want as a team is right in front of us."
Texans Defense And Draft Additions
Houston has given him reasons to talk that way. Anderson and Danielle Hunter anchor a defense regarded as one of the NFL's best, and the unit finished second in points allowed in 2025. The Texans also began the draft by taking guard Keylan Rutledge and selected Ohio State's Kayden McDonald in the second round.
Anderson's own 2025 season matched the tone. He made his second Pro Bowl and earned his first All-Pro selection while posting career bests with 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 54 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback hits. He also won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, so the climb from standout rookie to centerpiece has happened fast.
Texans' Next Step
The friction point is Houston's ceiling. Playoff berths have become commonplace since Anderson arrived, but the franchise has never advanced past the Divisional Round. That is the line standing between a strong run of relevance and the championship standard Anderson is describing.
He said this was the best OTAs he has had in four years with Houston and told teammates, "It's a confidence thing." Then came the clearest message of all: "Everybody in this circle who believes that this is a Super Bowl team, raise your hand."
