Aaron Rodger's guest-hosting stint on Jeopardy reminds me of what certain Texans have done on national TV over the years.
Everyone will point to J.J. Watt, who has hosted Saturday Night Live, made guest appearances on New Girl, The League and has even co-hosted Ultimate Tag with his brothers.
Arian Foster had a memorable visit on Hawaii 5-0 that was shot when he was at the Pro Bowl following the 2012 campaign.
You can also add David Carr in the mix. His career here didn't go according to plan, but he's made a nice post-playing gig for himself as an analyst on the NFL Network.
Dan Orlovksy and Matt Leinart were each here for only a season, but they're certainly worth mentioning. Leinart played in the NFL for six years, but when you Google search him, his IMDB page comes up way before his football stats. IMDB describes him as a writer and an actor without mentioning football. He's done plenty of analysis work on Fox College Football broadcasts. Orlovsky is an analyst for ESPN.
As far as appearing on a variety of national TV broadcasts and being a long time Texan, Watt has only one rival, or is it two? Chester Pitts and Ephraim Salaam.
Pitts and Salaam won a Super Bowl ad contest that put them in the big game broadcast following the 2007 season. The spot focused on Salaam 'discovering' Chester at a grocery store in San Diego while they were at San Diego State. They had great on-screen chemistry and subsequently appeared on Ellen many times. They even did a stint together on the Amazing Race.
Salaam was with the team for three seasons, but Chester is an original Texan who played eight years in Houston.
This piece focuses on national TV only. Plenty of former Texans have worked on local and regional television. If I missed anyone on the national scene, hit me up @TexansVoice on Twitter.
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
