HOUSTON — Pass-rusher Danielle Hunter and running back Joe Mixon were introduced Thursday as two of the newest Houston Texans. Hunter -- who is from Katy and played at Morton Ranch High School -- came here through free agency. Mixon got to Houston by trade.
Hunter has been in the league since 2015 and wore No. 99 in Minnesota. If No. 99 in deep steel blue sounds familiar, there's a reason. One of the greatest to ever play on the defensive side of the ball wore that number for Houston. And Hunter is letting him keep it.
“That’s JJ (Watt)’s number,” Hunter said when asked if he’s keeping No. 99. “He’s done a lot with that number. I’m not even going to mess with it. To be able to do what he’s done with that number for the community and the Texans, I’m just leaving that under him. I’ve decided to possibly go with No. 55.”
The number 99 isn’t the only thing Hunter has in common with Watt. They both strike fear in opposing quarterbacks. Watt recorded double-digit sack totals in six seasons and has 120.5 for his career. Hunter has had double-digit sacks in five seasons and 87.5 in his career.