Desmond King on evolution of Texans: ‘We’re an up-and-coming team, and we’re here to stay’

IOWA COLONY – When veteran corner and former All-Pro selection Desmond King first joined the Texans four years ago, it was a vastly different football team and an altogether different experience.

The Texans and King endured two consecutive losing seasons during the one-and-done tenures of head coaches David Culley and Lovie Smith.

While King experienced success on the field, including a career-high 93 tackles with three interceptions in 2021 and 89 tackles and two interceptions in 2022, it wasn’t until last year that the Texans became a winner again.

Having witnessed and contributed firsthand to the journey of the Texans after rejoining them last season after being cut and playing briefly for the Pittsburgh Steelers and contributing 47 tackles, one sack and two passes defensed in seven games for the AFC South champions, King signed a one-year, $2.2 million contract this offseason. Signing on for his fourth season in Houston, the 29-year-old Detroit native and former Iowa standout is confident in a team brimming with high expectations.

“I wouldn’t say that’s the only reason I’m back,” King told KPRC 2 during his sixth annual football camp Saturday at Iowa Colony High School where he was joined by Texans safety Jalen Pitre and former Texans cornerback Tavierre Thomas, one of his best friends who’s now playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “I’m going on my fourth year in Houston. I’ve done seen the evolution of the team and the organization just being here for those first couple of years and seeing where it’s at now, knowing my capability and what I can bring to the team, why not be here with Houston? We’re an up-and-coming team and we’re here to stay. We’re just getting ready for the season and I’m here.:

Playing for the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Texans and Steelers, King has recorded 473 career tackles, nine interceptions, seven fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, 35 passes defensed and 9 1/2 sacks with 2,413 return yards and five total touchdowns.

As the former Hawkeyes first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection and All-American who won the Jim Thorpe award as the nation’s top defensive back as a junior when he intercepted eight passes, King knows well that the projections surrounding the Texans aren’t tangible items. Every season starts from scratch no matter how talented the roster that’s been built by general manager Nick Caserio and Ryans.

“Just honestly, it’s all about staying focused on the goal,” King said. “We know what kind of team we have. That said, you see it every day in the locker room. It’s what we do when we go out there on that field. Yeah, we have the noise. We have the hype behind us, but that’s not out there on that practice field when we’re out there working.

“That’s what it’s about. We’re out there putting blood, sweat and tears in every day. We know what we have and we’ve got to believe in what we have, and that’s what really matters.”

Growing up in Detroit, King participated in the Sound Mind, Sound Body camps. That left him with a sense of responsibility to pass on the knowledge he’s accumulated over the years.

On Saturday, King emphasized the importance of discipline, hard work, scholarship and perseverance. He made it a special point of emphasis to discuss the value of education and not simply relying on athletic talent.

“This is what it’s about: being active in the community helping kids because they’re the future,” King said. “We’ve all been there in their shoes. We know what it takes to get to where you want to be in life. Why not pass it down to future kids in the community being active? Even me, you can always learn something new every day.

“Just from where I come from in my community, it’s hard for a lot of guys to make it to the next level and sometimes most of it will be because of violence or school not having an education. That’s why you got to enforce that and let them know some people don’t finish college and go to the NFL, but it’s important to even get to that point and finish college. You have to do that to get to where you want to be in life and it’s all going to pay dividends in the end.”

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