C.J. Stroud will once again be in charge of leading the offense for a Houston Texans team aiming to establish itself as a serious title contender. Unfortunately for them, a defensive player who was once a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles will no longer be with the team ahead of next NFL season.
The latest news involves veteran cornerback Ronald Darby, who has decided to retire from professional football in recent hours. With this decision, head coach DeMeco Ryans is left without another player of his team’s defensive unit.
The news was reported by NFL insider Adam Schefter, who shared details about the former Florida State Seminoles player’s decision through his official account on X (formerly Twitter).
“Another retirement: Veteran CB Ronald Darby, who played 10 seasons and helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII, informed the Houston Texans that he is retiring from the NFL, per sources,” the insider stated via @AdamSchefter.
Ronald Darby #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles returns an interception during the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Miami, Florida.
Since entering the NFL, Darby went on to play for the Bills, Eagles, Washington Football Team, Broncos, Ravens, Jaguars, and most recently, the Texans. Undoubtedly, the highlight of his career came in February 2018, when—playing for Doug Pederson’s Eagles—he helped defeat Tom Brady’s Patriots to win Super Bowl LII.
see also
NFL News: CJ Stroud’s Texans part ways with Trevor Lawrence’s former Jaguars teammate ahead of 2025 season
Texans aiming to be contenders next season
What are the Houston Texans truly capable of this season? With rising star C.J. Stroud under center and head coach DeMeco Ryans continuing to build a competitive culture, the team has its sights set on making serious noise in the AFC South. But to get there, they’ll have to outplay division rivals like the Colts, Jaguars, and Titans—no easy task in a tightly contested race.
The arrival of wide receiver Christian Kirk adds another layer of explosiveness to Houston’s offense. Seen as a valuable new target for Stroud, Kirk joins a unit that already includes Nico Collins, who had a breakout year, and promising young receiver Tank Dell, who is working his way back from injury.
With talent on both sides of the ball and growing confidence within the locker room, the Texans are starting to look like a team that’s ready to take the next step. But the big question remains—are these Texans built for a Super Bowl run?
The first matchups for Houston
In the NFL, if a team intends to become a true title contender, starting the season on the right foot is crucial. For that reason, the Texans will need to overcome these first five challenges to prove what they’re really made of:
- @ Los Angeles Rams, September 7th
- vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, September 15th
- @ Jacksonville Jaguars, September 21st
- vs Tennessee Titans, September 28th
- @ Baltimore Ravens, October 5th
SurveyIs C.J. Stroud capable of leading the Texans to a Super Bowl?
Is C.J. Stroud capable of leading the Texans to a Super Bowl?
ALREADY VOTED 0 PEOPLE
