HOUSTON – After a decade of frustration, the Houston Texans can officially call themselves a playoff football team. The journey to the Super Bowl will begin in a matter of weeks, and taking the lead role will be rookie T.J. Yates.
After starting quarterback Matt Schaub and backup quarterback Matt Leinart went down with season ending injuries, young Yates was called on to step in and continue the team's successful season.
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A playoff-clinching comeback win at Cincinnati has catapulted Yates to hero status in Houston. His rise from the Texans scout team to the first team has been quite a feat and one he never imagined.
"In your wildest dreams, did you envision this?" KPRC Local 2 Sports Director Randy McIlvoy asked.
"Not happening like this -- especially this early in my career," replied Yates.
It may not be expected, but his success is appreciated and the excitement is rubbing off on teammates.
"He's not playing like a rookie. He's not playing like your third stringer. He's playing like an NFL starter," Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said. "When 70,000 people in your own stadium chant your name, I think you're doing alright."
The 24-year-old's journey to the NFL has been remarkable. He grew up a Colts fan in Indiana.
"I was born in Indianapolis. We lived there for 10 years," said Yates, whose family had season tickets to see the Colts.
Later his family moved to Georgia where Yates attended Marietta's Pope High School. Football wasn't on his mind when he started there.
"I didn't play football my junior year in high school, so, you know, that's when most of the recruiting happens," said Yates. "I just kind of played my senior year just for some fun."
That changed one special night in front of college scouts.
"Fourth or fifth game, one of the linebacker coaches that was at North Carolina at the time was there scouting two other guys on the other team, and I had a pretty good game. They called a week later. I had an offer and I committed," Yates said.
Yates played five years at Carolina before being drafted into the NFL and facing tremendous pressure on the field much sooner than he or anyone ever expected.
His teammates believe he can hold up to the pressure. They see a guy who's leading and playing with poise.
"Knowing that the guys have my back, that they're not, you know, any bit worried or have any hesitation towards it, it definitely helps me go out there and have a lot of confidence in running the offense," said Yates.
Texans fans hope that confidence helps the team run all the way to the Super Bowl. The championship game airs on KPRC Local 2 on Feb. 5.