Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. took the NFL by storm as a rookie last season. He recorded 49 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in 17 games (including the playoffs), good enough to earn the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a trip to the 2023 Pro Bowl.
Now 22, in his second year in Houston’s defensive scheme under head coach DeMeco Ryans, many believe Anderson can catapult himself into discussions about the best defender in the NFL in 2024.
>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<
But as for Anderson? His deepest concerns lie elsewhere.
“My focus is just less on what everybody has to say and more on God,” Anderson told reporters last week at Texans training camp. “I think my biggest thing is knowing that, like I always tell y’all, my approval comes from Him. Ultimately, everything that I achieve in this lifetime, I’m putting Him first for it, because He’s the reason why I’m here.
“I think that’s the difference. Like, this year I’m like, ‘God, whether it’s a good game or bad game — anything — You’re gonna get the praise and glory for it. I’m gonna let You use me however You want to use me each game.’ I just want to be a servant, be a leader, and be a blessing to my teammates and help them out in any type of way. So that’s my whole thing coming into this year. It’s like, ‘God, however You want to use me, I just want to be a blessing to this team.'”
🙏🏼SPECIAL: Will Anderson (@will_anderson28) opens up about the growth in his relationship with Jesus Christ during the offseason.
“I’m gonna let you use me however you want to use me each game. I just want to be a servant, be a leader and be a blessing to my teammates.”
🤲🏻🤲🏻🤲🏻 pic.twitter.com/F9saAPqT1T
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) July 18, 2024
The Texans drafted Anderson No. 3 overall out of Alabama in 2023, moving up in the draft order from the No. 12 position in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals. Anderson’s selection was right after Houston had picked former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2 overall; Stroud went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Last season was also Ryans’ first as an NFL head coach, returning to the team he starred for from 2006-11.
Careers now inextricably intertwined, the three new faces quickly captured the hearts of Texans fans everywhere. Together, Ryans, Stroud and Anderson reversed the direction of the entire franchise, which had won only 11 games combined during the previous three seasons.
The Texans dropped their first two regular-season games last year, but then won 10 of their next 15 to capture the AFC South division title for the first time since 2019. Then in the playoffs, they sent the Cleveland Browns packing in the wild-card round before falling to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.
Following his memorable rookie season, Anderson addressed the media a final time. He was asked how he grew as a man during the season, and he took the opportunity to talk about the ways he had seen God at work in his life.
“I would just say my faith,” Anderson answered, “just getting closer to God.”
He credited members of Houston’s staff with mentoring him and encouraging him in faith during his rookie season, saying they helped him to “be closer to God and understanding His Word and knowing how special He is and how much grace and mercy that He has over our lives.
“It’s so crazy the way God works and the way that God will bring people into your life to help you grow closer to Him and put you in situations to know that, ‘I always got My hand on you.’ … The only person I gotta please is God. That’s the only person I need approval from. It’s God.”
Anderson publicly spoke about his faith in God while at Alabama, when he and teammate Bryce Young decided to play in the Sugar Bowl instead of opting out during their final year with the Crimson Tide. Anderson also writes “GOD DID!” in his Instagram bio, and he’s been known to post Bible verses on the social media platform.
View this post on Instagram
As Anderson stands on the precipice of what many believe could be a historic second season in the NFL, the outside pressure to perform is mounting. Yet he’s not concerned with the approval of the countless NFL pundits, all with their own opinions. He’s concerned with praising God with his words and actions, and resting in the ultimate approval that comes from the Lord.
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
RELATED STORIES:
– Alabama’s Will Anderson, Bryce Young place trust in God & opt in for Sugar Bowl
– Texans’ DeMeco Ryans, C.J. Stroud reach playoffs in 1st season: ‘Praise goes to God’
– Texans’ C.J. Stroud sets rookie passing record as he plays ‘for the glory of God’
– DeMeco Ryans introduced as Texans HC, says God has ‘paved the way for me’
– Off career year, Vikings DL Harrison Phillips rooted in ‘relationship with Jesus’
