The Texans led the Patriots in week five at the half, but only by a touchdown after Patriots QB Drake Maye threw a bomb to Kayshon Boutte to cut a two touchdown lead in half late in the second quarter. The Patriots offense was due to start the second half with the ball, so it was a little dicey situation for the Texans defense. At halftime, head coach DeMeco Ryans implored the defense to make a much needed big play.
Danielle Hunter listened and obliged.
On the second play of the half, Maye went back to throw and that was a bad thing…for the Patriots. Hunter heeded his coach's call about making a play, swooped in, smashed Maye, knocked the ball loose and the Texans recovered. Two plays later, the Texans took a 21-7 lead and wouldn't look back, winning in Foxboro for the first time ever.
After the game, asked about that play, Hunter, in only a way that he can, said "Coach said we needed a play, so I went and made it." He made plenty of those plays throughout the 2024 NFL campaign. He was top five in sacks with 12.0, registering 17 TFL and a career high 23 QB hits in the process. He earned his fifth Pro Bowl trip and even received votes for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
He became a social media sensation throughout the 2024 campaign for many of the football nerds after some of his whirling dervish pass rushes made their way to X/Twitter and Instagram. He returned home to the greater Houston area and put on a weekly show in the process. There's little question that he's ready for his encore performance in tandem with Will Anderson Jr in 2025 and beyond.
No time like the present to make more plays for his hometown team.
