Why Reed Blankenship chose Texans: ‘Houston really wanted me,’ former Eagles safety ‘born and raised to hit dudes’

HOUSTON – Reed Blankenship was facing a monumental decision as football player, and a watershed moment in his life.

As an undrafted free agent despite numerous honors at Middle Tennessee State, Blankenship was accustomed to being overlooked.

In high school, the rangy Alabama native’s multiple scholarship offers were primarily from smaller schools like Arkansas Tech, Alabama A&M, Southern Miss, Marist, Tulane, and Mercer.

So, it resonated strongly with Blankenship to feel truly wanted as a free agent. Under a new wrinkle to the NFL free agency rules, teams were allowed to do a recruiting telephone call to five prospective new players like Blankenship.

It was a convincing and inspiring conversation between the former Philadelphia Eagles team captain and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans. And Blankenship, a rangy, instinctive safety who joined the Texans on a three-year, $24.75 million contract that includes $16.5 million guaranteed.

When Blankenship signed his undrafted deal with Philadelphia, his signing bonus was just $5,000.

“I got a call from DeMeco and hearing what he had to say, I could tell that he wanted me, and I could tell that he really liked me as a player,” Blankenship said Wednesday during his introductory press conference. “Obviously, we haven’t met truly in person, but I feel like he knows what my character is and what my personality is. You could tell that he really wanted me and really liked me. After we hung up, I was with my wife and I’m like, ‘I really feel like Houston really wants me.’ That honestly felt like the first time in my whole NFL career that somebody really wanted me as a player and as a person.

“He was just being real, obviously just being your authentic self. He was just telling me about the building, about the place, what they’re building. I was already bought in, honestly, and I really loved everything he had to say. I don’t need a lot of peer pressure, but it was really cool to hear what he had to say. Obviously, I feel like I landed in a great spot. It’s a different sort of edge to my career. I feel like I’m going to have a lot of fun down in Houston.”

Now, the former Super Bowl champion is expected to be a big part of the Texans’ top-ranked defense.

Blankenship joined an absolutely loaded Texans secondary headlined by All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

The Texans have two Pro Bowl alternates who were added to the all-star activities in cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock. Stingley, Lassiter, Bullock and hard-hitting nickel Jalen Pitre all intercepted four passes apiece last season.

He’s the new starter opposite Bullock. Bullock is a natural centerfielder type. Blankenship loves to be involved in the action by the line of scrimmage as a run-stopping presence and an enforcer against pass routes. He has intercepted nine passes, including four interceptions in 2024 when the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

“Watching Houston fly around at times, I’m like, ‘Dang, this defense is legit,’” Blankenship said. “Fast forward, it’s crazy that a team like that wants me to come in and to perform at a high level. It speaks volumes. Coming into this defense, I feel like I can give everybody a sense of calmness. I want to be the communicator out there. I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes at all, but I want everybody just to play free.

“Play free, have fun and at the end of the day, just go and hit dudes. I’ve always been coached like an old school type coach. I’ve been born and raised to go run and hit dudes for a living. I know there’s a bunch of dogs in the secondary, linebackers, defensive line, everywhere. I’m super stoked for this. I’m just ready to build that relationship between all the levels.”

Blankenship, 27, is a large safety at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds.

Blankenship, who has run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds with a 33 1/2 inch vertical leap and benched 15 reps of 225 pounds, has started 50 of 56 career games played.

He has defensed 23 passes with three fumble recoveries, 308 tackles, three for losses.

With the Eagles, Blankenship was a part of a talented secondary that included Cooper DeJean, one of his best friends and podcast partners on the ‘Exciting Mics,’ podcast and cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay Jr., He’s used to being around playmakers.

The Texans arguably have the top secondary in the league.

“They’re already a really talented group,” Blankenship said. “There shouldn’t be any fall-off. That’s my mindset. I feel like the sky’s the limit for this secondary, for sure. I know all these guys are bought in. Why wouldn’t you want to be? They all want to win. We have a winning mindset. I can already feel that in the building. I’m super excited to get to work with these guys and really start to build relationships with them.”

Last season, Blankenship allowed Justin two touchdowns and recorded 83 tackles and one fumble recovery with one interception.

The Texans had a revolving door at safety last season opposite Bullock.

After trading for C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Eagles, he was insubordinate and refused to play within the scheme and was released.

Then, safety M.J. Stewart solidified the spot before tearing his quadriceps tendon. Stewart, back on a one-year, $3 million deal, was replaced by rookie Jaylen Reed.

Reed broke a metal plate in his forearm and was replaced by Myles Bryant. Bryant struggled and the Texans went back to Reed in the playoffs.

Now, Blankenship takes over and should stabilize what was the only weak spot in the defense last season.

He’ll provide his own unique style of play and leadership.

“Honestly, I’ve never been the big rah-rah guy,” Blankenship said. “When I got voted captain, I believe that was sort of my job and opportunity to get these guys going, especially for a guy who’s been in that room. They want to hear a voice.

“I’m not the rah-rah guy, but when I step on the field, it’s this different type of emotion. My adrenaline starts going and I just flip a switch. My wife can definitely tell you all, probably in detail, that during gameday, I rarely even talk to her. I’m just locked in. There’s a certain time that I just can’t talk to anybody. I dedicate the whole day to going out and trying to get a W.”

When Blankenship came to town to take his physical and sign his contract, he didn’t get to see much of the city. Next time, he’d like to attend the rodeo.

“Obviously, they had all the commotion, and I’m like, ‘Well, I probably won’t get to see a whole lot,’” said Blankenship, who owns several pairs of cowboy boots. “But I’m super excited to see everything else when I go back.”

Blankenship is used to winning.

He started as a rookie in the playoffs and recovered a fumble he forced during the NFC championship game and played in a Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Two years later, he excelled for a Super Bowl winning squad as they avenged that defeat by toppling star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

“I feel like the blueprint to winning a championship is not just being in a defensive mindset or offensive mindset, this is a full group,” Blankenship said. “You have to be married at every position, every level possible. I got to be able to go up to an offensive lineman or to C.J. [Stroud] or whoever and have the exact same conversation I would have if I was sitting right next to my guys in the safeties room. We need to be one big family.

“Everybody needs to laugh, cut up, go hang out, whatever, because you’re with the same dudes for a long period of time during the year. In the past few years, I love going to work. I’m going to bring that sort of attitude, that mindset to the locker room and be me, be my authentic self and vibe with everybody, see what everybody’s doing and we’ll go from there.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com