Check out our series highlighting new 2021 player signings for the Houston Texans.
Get to know linebacker Hardy Nickerson, signed as an unrestricted free agent on March 22, 2021.
Name: Hardy Nickerson
Position: Linebacker
Height, Weight: 6-0, 235
Hometown: Oakland, California
School: Illinois
Get to know Hardy:
- In 2021, Nickerson will be reunited with Texans Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Lovie Smith. Nickerson played for Smith when he was the Head Coach at Illinois.
- Nickerson played one season (2016) at Illinois after transferring from the University of California – Berkeley where he played three years (2013-15). He earned an All-Big Ten Honorable mention selection after starting all 12 games and leading the team with 107 tackles (38 solo).
- His dad is four-time All-Pro NFL linebacker Hardy Nickerson Sr. who also played for Lovie Smith when he was his position coach at Tampa Bay. Nickerson Sr. also coached under Smith when he was the Linebackers Coach for the Chicago Bears and was the Defensive Coordinator at Illinois.
- Nickerson played his first football game at the age of eight at Lambeau Field as a member of a Green Bay Pop Warner team.
- Nickerson played three seasons in Cincinnati (2017-2019) before signing with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent in 2020. In his four NFL seasons, Nickerson has tallied 80 tackles (56 solo), one tackle for loss, one interception, three passes defensed, one forced fumble on defense and two forced fumbles on special teams through 51 games with 11 starts.
- On Christmas Day last year, Nickerson recorded his first career interception when he picked off Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Then in Week 17 at Detroit, he forced his second fumble of the season on special teams.
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The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 6/14/2021)
TE, Jordan Akins, #88
DL, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
DB, Cornell Armstrong, #3
TE, Antony Auclair, #83
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
OL, Justin Britt, #68
DB, Terrence Brooks, #29
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
OL, Marcus Cannon, #61
DB, Shyheim Carter, #38
OL, Geron Christian Sr., #72
WR, Randall Cobb, #18
DL, Maliek Collins, #97
WR, Nico Collins, #84
WR, Chris Conley, #17
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter, #82
WR, Keke Coutee, #16
DB, Keion Crossen, #35
LB, Zach Cunningham, #41
LB, Tae Davis, #55
QB, Jeff Driskel, #6
DL, Brandon Dunn, #92
WR, Alex Erickson, #14
LS, Mitchell Fraboni
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
OL, Hjalte Froholdt, #77
OL, Carson Green, #62
LB, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
LB, Nate Hall, #47
DB, Vernon Hargreaves III, #26
WR, Damon Hazelton, #86
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #22
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
RB, Buddy Howell, #8
RB, Mark Ingram, #2
TE, Ryan Izzo, #81
DL, Jordan Jenkins, #50
RB, David Johnson, #31
DL, Jaleel Johnson, #91
DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #1
OL, Roderick Johnson, #63
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
LB, Christian Kirksey, #58
DL, Shaq Lawson, #93
RB, Phillip Lindsay, #30
DL, Roy Lopez, #79
DL, Jacob Martin, #54
OL, Ryan McCollum, #75
OL, Justin McCray, #64
DL, Whitney Mercilus, #59
QB, Davis Mills, #10
DB, Terrance Mitchell, #39
WR, Donte Moncrief, #12
DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33
WR, Chris Moore, #15
DB, Eric Murray, #23
LB, Hardy Nickerson, #56
DL, Charles Omenihu, #94
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
RB, Scottie Phillips, #27
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis, #57
TE, Paul Quessenberry, #45
DB, John Reid, #34
DB, Justin Reid, #20
DL, Derek Rivers, #95
WR, Andre Roberts, #19
DB, Bradley Roby, #21
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith, #24
OL, Jordan Steckler, #70
OL, Lane Taylor, #65
WR, Taywan Taylor, #37
QB, Tyrod Taylor, #5
DL, Vincent Taylor, #96
LB, Joe Thomas, #48
DB, Tavierre Thomas, #42
OL, Cole Toner, #66
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
DL, DeMarcus Walker, #44
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
TE, Kahale Warring, #87
QB, Deshaun Watson, #4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
