The Houston Texans finished second in the NFL in interceptions in 2024, snagging 19, five behind NFL-leading Minnesota (24). Corner Derek Stingley Jr. expects Houston to top the charts in 2025.
"Going based off of last year, plus the guys we got now, we should lead in interceptions probably by at least about 10 to 15," Stingley told ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime. "I mean, we know we can get the ball. We just got to keep going to get the ball."
Houston definitely has the horses to lead the NFL in interceptions, but a goal of "10 to 15" is an outsized target. To accomplish that feat, they'd have to at least hit the 30-INT mark, which hasn't been done since the 2011 Green Bay Packers (31). Since 2000, just six teams have hit the 30-interception mark in a season -- 2011 Packers, 2009 Packers (30), 2007 Chargers (30), 2005 Bengals (31), 2002 Buccaneers (31), 2001 Browns (33).
Offenses are much more careful with the football than in previous generations, as completion percentages skyrocket and QBs take fewer risks downfield. It's of little coincidence that no defense has hit 40 INTs since 1961 (Chargers, 49 -- most in NFL history)
Regardless of how many interceptions the unit corrals, DeMeco Ryans' defense has a shot to be among the best in the NFL in 2025. Houston boasts a stellar front led by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson. The back end could be the best in the league with corners Stingley and Kamari Lassiter, do-it-all nickel/safety Jalen Pitre, Calen Bullock, and the addition of C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
The trade for CJGJ provides the Texans another ballhawk to find interceptions in droves; the DB finished with six in 2024, tied for third-most in the NFL.
"C.J. is just, he's one piece. He's a foundational piece to what we're doing," Ryans said earlier this offseason. "But it's going to take a collective effort of building that puzzle, putting the work together and everybody collectively coming together to make that puzzle a beautiful, finished product. We all work together the right way, we can have a really good secondary."
