Houston Texans EDGE rusher Dylan Horton has had a difficult NFL journey but has been resilient every step of the way. Horton was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in his rookie season in December 2023 and stepped away from football. He became cancer-free in May 2024 but missed the first four games of his second season to complete his recovery.
Dylan Horton was relatively healthy in his third season and served as the No. 4 EDGE rusher. Horton totaled 26 tackles, one tackle for loss, four quarterback hits, a half sack, and one forced fumble in 16 regular-season games and a career-high 244 defensive snaps, along with two tackles in the playoffs. He also posted 16 pressures, 13 hurries, and a 5.8% pass-rush win rate.
In his fourth season, Horton will compete against Dominique Robinson, Solomon Byrd, and Ali Gaye for the top backup passing-rushing role behind starters Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. In addition, he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
The Houston Texans’ 4th-round pick is poised for an expanded role in Year 4
Jun 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Dylan Horton arrives for the team’s minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
During Tuesday’s interview with Marc Vandermeer, the voice of the Houston Texans, Dylan Horton reflected on the relationship with his teammates and his preparation for the 2026 NFL season. Horton spoke very highly of his teammates, including Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., while discussing their impact. Additionally, he emphasized that he is ready to play when the season begins.
“I can’t even emphasize how much they are great people before I even get into what they do on the field,” Horton said of Anderson Jr. and Hunter. “Just kind of how they approach the day, how you can see the professionalism — nutrition, recovery, workouts. Having them in the room, having them to just learn off of, conversate with, is special.”
“Whenever the ball snaps, the game time is here, it’s time to go play,” Horton said. When asked if he has to consciously come back down after a game, he laughed. “The game’s over, you go ahead and relax, take a deep breath, do some recovery.”
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