HOUSTON – The bitter taste of a playoff exit at New England last January carried into the offseason for the Houston Texans. Through the draft and free agency they believe some key issues have been resolved as a new campaign opens in a matter of weeks.
High on the Texans wish list was improving their running game and they believe they found their missing piece.
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Standing on the Texans’ practice field after finishing a day of powerful touchdown runs and smooth catches out of the backfield, David Montgomery walked over to give his mom a big hug.
Roberta Mitchell raised the Texans running back in Cincinnati, Ohio by herself as a single mother, instilling love and discipline in Montgomery and his siblings while dealing with difficult financial and life situations as they dealt with adversity in a rough neighborhood.
Montgomery’s arrival has already made an impact and his work ethic has impressed many who closely cover the team.
Texans Insider Aaron Wilson, who regularly appears on KPRC 2’s Sports Sunday, has covered Montgomery since signing with the Texans and spoke with the new running back after a camp practice.
“David Montgomery is already making an impact on the Texans locker room and on the field with his tackle-breaking presence. This trade should provide a boost to a running game that struggled last season. While Woody Marks will still have a good role, including catching passes, some carries and on kickoff returns, Montgomery is the primary running back and the centerpiece of a revamped running game.”
It was his mother who inspired Montgomery to get involved in Boy Scouts. Montgomery eventually became an Eagle Scout, the highest honor in scouting. His project: collecting toiletries to help the homeless.
He’s now a proud, official Scouting America recruiting ambassador as a national spokesman.
Now, he’s the Texans’ featured running back as the centerpiece of a rebuilt running game after an offseason trade from the Detroit Lions and is playing under a two-year, $16.5 million contract extension.
Montgomery has a punishing running style, but he’s also versatile and elusive and has rushed for 6,115 career rushing yards.
The way that Montgomery has fit into the Texans’ locker room and the offense as a key chess piece has been through an organic, authentic approach. He has become good friends with his backfield teammate, second-year running back Woody Marks. And he has provided leadership through both his words and actions. The Texans are thrilled that Montgomery is a part of their vibrant, team-first culture.
“What I like best about David is his approach,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. ”You talk about a true professional. He shows up every day, prepared and ready to go. He’s very attentive in meetings. Seeing his demeanor in on the field, it’s a business-like approach.
Montgomery has earned his rugged reputation as a hard-nosed, blue-collar runner who thrives on breaking tackles and trucking defenders.
With the Lions, Montgomery was nicknamed ‘Knuckles’ as part of a stellar backfield tandem with star Jahmyr Gibbs, who’s known as ‘Sonic.’
When the Texans acquired Montgomery, Texans nickel Jalen Pitre, one of the hardest hitters in the game, was already aware of his credentials going back to his college days at Iowa State when Pitre was at Baylor.
“David, he’s different,” Pitre said. “I remember, going way back, I’m talking about before when we played at the Lions, when I was a freshman in college and we were playing Iowa State. It was the first time I ever saw somebody just get completely ran over as a true freshman. I’m like, ‘Is this for me?’ I know he’s going to elevate the offense and do a great job for the team this year.
When Pitre’s comments were relayed to Montgomery, he broke into a big smile.
The respect of your peers in football is priceless. It means everything.
“I’m grateful,” Montgomery told Wilson in a post-practice interview. “I’m blessed to be in a place to where I can kind of come in, and these guys already see me as a leader. It’s a testament to the amount of work and kind of the role that I came from being in the league as long as I have.
“I’m still out to prove myself, and for somebody like JP to see me that way, and me seeing him how I see him, it’s let me turn it up some more because I want to be able to reach the standard that everybody else has set. I’m trying to reset it too so that I can be the best version of myself.”
As the Texans’ new RB1 after joining a returning playoff squad, Montgomery is slated for a heavy workload that includes pass-catching duties as he works in tandem with Marks.
Montgomery rushed for 4.5 yards per carry last season and has averaged 4.1 yards per run for his career. The Texans’ running game ranked 22nd overall, 3.9 yards per carry, 29th in the NFL, and 31st with nine touchdown runs. They badly needed reinforcements. Montgomery provides that anchor for their running game.
If healthy, the tandem of Montgomery and Marks could provide the the backfield production needed to take this offense to a new level in 2026.
The Texans season opens September 13th at home against Buffalo.