Tag: Chester Pitts

DeMeco Ryans acknowledges former Texans visiting OTAs

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans appreciated former players, including WR Andre Johnson, stopping by at OTAs.

Though the Houston Texans have had their share of struggles over the last several seasons the hype surrounding the team is at an all-time high.

Whether it is hiring a former franchise hero in DeMeco Ryans as coach or taking C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson back-to-back in the 2023 NFL draft, there is plenty of energy on Kirby Drive.

The Texans appear to be back on the path to relevance, and with some of the best players in team history making an appearance at organized team activities June 6, it was like a stamp of approval.

Among those in attendance were legendary receiver Andre Johnson, former linebacker Kailee Wong, and former guards Chester Pitts and Fred Weary — all of whom played with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans in Houston.

Ryans commented on the reunion with his former teammates after the team’s practice session, pointing out that the presence of such decorated players provided plenty of motivation for his upstart Texans.

“It was awesome to see a lot of former players — guys who laid the foundation here for this Texans organization,” Ryans said. “So, I was excited to see those guys out [here] and it was fun to talk to them and just let them know how much our guys appreciate their support – how much it means to us to have their support.”

Ryans went on to reiterate that these outstanding players were foundational pieces of the Texans’ franchise, and committed to doing the all-time greats proud as he revamps Houston’s reputation as a competitive football team.

“Everything that we do, they laid the foundation for our players that are here right now,” said Ryans. “And for our players that are here, it’s about just doing everything we can to be the best that we are on Sundays to make those guys proud.”

For a team that is as young as the Texans, visits like these from players so crucial to the franchise’s coming of age in the mid-2000s should serve as a reminder that Houston holds the key to its destiny in its hands heading into the new season, and has plenty of support behind them.

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2021 NFL draft 3rd-most watched ever with 6.1M viewers

The 2021 NFL draft drew in 6.1 million viewers over three days, making it the third-most watched in history.

While the Houston Texans may have had a paltry draft with just five players selected, the NFL had one of its better three-day weekends in a while.

According to NFL Media, the 2021 NFL draft drew in an average audience of 6.1 million viewers, including TV and digital, across ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, and digital channels from April 29 to May 1.

NFL Media says it is the third-most watched draft ever. The most-watched draft is the 2020 draft at 8.3 million, and the second-most watched is the 2019 draft with 6.2 million.

Cleveland, the host city, averaged a 10.9 HH rating for the NFL draft, which is the highest-rated local market for 2021 and the highest host city draft rating on record since Chicago began hosting the draft in 2015.

On digital platforms, the 2021 NFL draft delivered an AMA of 261,000 across NFL O&O, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ABC platforms, which is up 36% compared to 2019, which had 192,000.

In addition to the high draft numbers, the second annual virtual Draft-a-Thon live fundraiser had an average daily reach of five million devices and 17 million total views across NFL O&O, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Yahoo, Reddit, Twitch, and AVOD platforms.

The livestream coverage of the draft went out on five platforms with YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, the ESPN App, and TikTok, which was the first year for the platform. The streams logged 8.9 million total views and 57.7 minutes of watch time. The views were also up 41% from 2019.

NFL Media says that the most balanced viewership comparison for the 2021 draft is the 2019 draft due to how unique the 2020 draft was in presentation and circumstance.

Chester Pitts signs one-day contract, retires with the Houston Texans

Former guard Chester Pitts, who played 114 games for the Houston Texans, is signing a one-day contract to retire with the AFC South club.

Former Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Chester Pitts officially decided to call it a career.

Pitts, who has not been on an NFL roster since 2011, signed a one-day contract with the Texans on Tuesday to officially retire with the team that drafted him with a second-round pick from San Diego State in 2002.

An original Texan, Pitts played 114 games for Houston, starting in every game. However, he wasn’t always a guard, where he spent 82 of his games with the Texans. Starting out, Pitts played left tackle for the expansion franchise, starting in 32 consecutive games as quarterback David Carr’s blindside protector before kicking inside to play left guard.

Pitts posted a photo of himself signing the contract on Tuesday with chairman and CEO Cal McNair looking on.

In 2009, Pitts played two games for the Texans and required knee surgery. In the offseason, he left the Texans and signed with the Seahawks. However, he was limited to five starts over seven games. The 6-4, 308-pound interior offensive lineman was part of Seattle’s Week 17 win that clinched them the NFC West and a playoff berth, but he was on injured reserve for the Seahawks’ playoff run.

Pitts will be announcing the Texans’ day two pick at the 2021 NFL draft.

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Every former and current player who has announced a Houston Texans draft pick

Chester Pitts is announcing the Houston Texans’ day two pick in 2021. See the list of all former and current players who have done so.

The NFL never ceases to find new ways to make the three-day revealing of a list of about 250 to 260 people interesting.

One of the measures the NFL took in 2011 was to have former players announce picks for their former teams. In time, current players began announcing picks of new teammates.

Here is a list of everyone, from former to current players, who have announced picks for the Houston Texans since 2011.