Texans star sets hilariously high defensive goal for 2025 season

The Houston Texans already had one of the best secondaries in the NFL during the 2024 season, and they only strengthened it this offseason when they added safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Returning stars like Derek Stingley Jr., as well as the addition of Gardner-Johnson, have the Texans setting high goals for what they are capable of in 2025.

Really high goals.

Perhaps unreachably high goals.

But even if they are unreachable it is a testament to how much confidence they have in themselves.

Stingley Jr. told ESPN this week that he feels like the Texans should not only lead the league interceptions, he feels they should lead the league "by 10 or 15 interceptions." 

"Going based off of last year, plus the guys we got now, we should lead in interceptions probably by at least about 10 to 15," Stingley told ESPN. "I mean, we know we can get the ball. We just got to keep going to get the ball."

The Texans were second in the NFL during the 2024 season, intercepting 19 passes, five behind the Minnesota Vikings. To reach Stingley's goal the Texans would likely need to finish the season with at least 30 interceptions ... or more. 

While several teams have reached that number in a single season (the  record is actually 49 set by the 1961 Chargers), most of those instances came in the 1960s, 70s and 80s when interception totals were far higher and the league's rules were more tilted toward the defense. 

With Stingley and Kamari Lassiter on the outside, as well as the addition of Gardner-Johnson, the Texans are certainly going to have one of the most feared secondaries in the league. Every single player out there is a ball-hawk, and they might very well lead the league. 

It just seems like a high expectation to do so to the degree Stingley wants.