Sheldon Rankins is a Houston Texans defensive tackle who returned to the team in 2025 after a serious health scare.
Rankins was a first-round pick out of Louisville by the Saints in 2016 and has played for several teams across a decade-long career. A viral meningitis and shingles diagnosis derailed his 2024 season with the Bengals and cost him significant weight. He re-signed with Houston in 2025 and made a memorable defensive play in the postseason.
Path to the league
Rankins, a Georgia native, starred at Louisville before the Saints drafted him 12th overall in 2016. He spent his early years in New Orleans and later played for the Jets, Texans and Bengals. A health scare in late 2024, including viral meningitis and shingles, sidelined him and caused him to lose roughly 50 pounds.
Career highlights
Rankins has been a steady interior presence and occasional pass-rush threat throughout his career. His return to Houston in 2025 marked his second stint with the franchise. He re-signed with the Texans in March 2025 after recovering from his illness.
2025 season
Per ESPN, Rankins appeared in 17 games for Houston in 2025, recording 3.0 sacks and 15 solo tackles. In the postseason he scooped up a forced fumble of Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and returned it for a 33-yard touchdown, per reports. He remains with the Texans heading into 2026.
Sources
- Houston Texans: 10 things to know about Sheldon Rankins
- ESPN: Sheldon Rankins player page
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
17 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | texans | 17 | 35 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | bengals | 7 | 18 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | texans | 15 | 37 | 29 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | jets | 15 | 43 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | jets | 16 | 32 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | saints | 12 | 20 | 13 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | saints | 10 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | saints | 16 | 41 | 26 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | saints | 16 | 26 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | saints | 9 | 20 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Louisville
- Hometown
- Covington, GA, USA
- Age
- 32
- Status
- active
