clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

D.J. Reader Is The Texans’ Walter Payton Man Of The Year Nominee

The center of the Texans’ defense is celebrated for what he does off the field instead of what he does on the field this time.

By Matt Weston
Denver Broncos v Houston Texans Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

You know D.J. Reader the football player. Nose tackle. Occasional 3-4 defensive end. Defensive tackle on passing downs. Line of scrimmage mover. Devourer of double teams. Shove the blocker into the quarterback pass rusher. He’s one of the Texans’ best defensive players, vital to their run defense, and their pass rush has dropped considerably since he’s slowed down as a pass rusher.

You probably don’t know Reader off the football field. He won the Texans’ Spirit of The Bull Award for his impact in the community. He’s the Texans’ face of their NFL “Play 60” campaign. And he supports the National Kidney Foundation after losing his father to kidney failure. Because of everything he does off the field, the Texans nominated him as their Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate.

Reader is looking to win the same award J.J. Watt won for his work after Hurricane Harvey. The winner will be announced during the broadcast of “NFL Honors” on February 1, 2020.

More From Battle Red Blog