Texans edge rusher who led the NFL in pass-rush win rate in 2025 (26.2%).
Will Anderson Jr. was the third pick in the 2023 draft and immediately won Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 2025 season produced 12 sacks and an NFL-best 26.2 percent pass-rush win rate per ESPN. He pairs with Danielle Hunter to give Houston the best edge tandem in the AFC.
Path to the league
Alabama unanimous All-American who won the 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best college defender). Texans traded up to take him third overall in 2023 alongside the No. 2 pick they used on C.J. Stroud.
Career highlights
2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. 2x Pro Bowl (2024, 2025). 2024 second-team All-Pro. 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Career 35+ sacks across three seasons. Led NFL in pass-rush win rate (2025).
2025 season recap
12 sacks, 56 tackles, 22 QB hits. Houston went 10-7 and reached the Divisional Round. Anderson's 26.2 percent pass-rush win rate led the NFL by 2.8 percentage points. Paired with Danielle Hunter, the Texans had two top-10 edge rushers.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Will Anderson Jr.
- Pro Football Reference: Will Anderson Jr.
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
17 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | texans | 3 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | texans | 17 | 54 | 35 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 2024 | texans | 14 | 37 | 27 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2023 | texans | 15 | 45 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive End
- Group
- defense
- College
- Alabama
- Hometown
- Hampton, GA, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- active
Latest news about Will Anderson Jr.
All news →Joe Burrow Calls It 'Ridiculous' That a Tight Back Would Keep Him Out at Houston
Update: Burrow is officially questionable with back soreness but is expected to start Sunday at Houston, which will be without Nico Collins.
Jadeveon Clowney Returns to Texans on One-Year Deal
The 2014 No. 1 overall pick reunites with the team that drafted him after stops in six other cities, joining a pass rush already featuring Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
After Record Deal, Will Anderson Jr. Is Hungry for a Super Bowl
The Texans made Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. He wants the deal to be a starting point, not a destination.
AFC offseason grades: who reloaded, who reached, and who is still figuring it out
Houston added two starters on the cheap. Pittsburgh chased Aaron Rodgers. The Titans drafted Cam Ward. We rank the AFC's offseasons by who pulled off the most of what they needed.
