M.J. Stewart is a defensive back for the Houston Texans whose 2025 season ended early because of a torn quadriceps.
M.J. Stewart entered the NFL as a second-round pick out of North Carolina and has transitioned from cornerback to safety over the course of his career. He has settled in with the Houston Texans, where he has been a versatile piece of the secondary. His 2025 campaign was cut short by injury.
Path to the league
Stewart played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he developed into a draftable defensive back. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He later moved around the league before landing with the Texans.
Career highlights
Stewart re-signed with the Texans in March 2025 for his fourth season with the team, reflecting the staff's trust in his ability to fill multiple roles in the back end. He has been used as both a slot defender and a safety during his Houston tenure.
2025 season
Stewart's 2025 season was cut short when he suffered a torn quadriceps in a Week 10 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team announced on November 9 that he would require season-ending surgery to repair the injury.
Sources
- Wikipedia: M. J. Stewart
- ESPN: M.J. Stewart player page
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
9 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | texans | 9 | 25 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | texans | 15 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | texans | 8 | 22 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | texans | 17 | 41 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 | browns | 13 | 47 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2020 | browns | 16 | 22 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2019 | buccaneers | 10 | 35 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018 | buccaneers | 11 | 33 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Safety
- Group
- defense
- College
- North Carolina
- Hometown
- Arlington, VA, USA
- Age
- 30
- Status
- active
