A former member and fan favorite of the Kansas City Chiefs made the cut for the Pro Football Focus All-Decade Top-101 list. Former Chiefs and current Indianapolis Colts linebacker Justin Houston came in at No. 46 on PFF’s All-Decade Top-101 list.
Houston was selected by Kansas City in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons of his career playing with the Chiefs before his release following the 2018 NFL season.
PFF’s Sam Monson reviewed Houston’s career in Kansas City and last season with Indianapolis. He also focused on Houston’s injury issues over the years.
“Injuries somewhat derailed Houston’s career, and that had an impact on the player he could have become. Still, at his peak, he was a legitimate rival for the best pass-rushers in the NFL and was more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the likes of Von Miller in the AFC West. Over a three-year span in the middle of the decade, Houston topped 90.0 in overall PFF grade every season, and he came within a sack of breaking the all-time single-season record in 2014. Houston wasn’t the same player after injuries started to take their toll, but last season a reduced role in Indianapolis saw him have his most productive pass-rushing season in years (60 pressures) and his best overall PFF grade (87.2) since 2015.“
Last season with the Colts, Houston recorded 11 sacks starting all sixteen regular-season games. He had 78.5 sacks during his eight-year tenure with the Chiefs. Last season in Week 5, against his former team, Houston recorded four tackles, two of which for losses, and a sack, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
During the 2010s decade, Houston has become a four-time Pro selection and a one-time first-team All-Pro, all while a member of the Chiefs.