My Cause, My Cleats: Special meaning for Texans’ Dylan Horton, who’s raising awareness about Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

HOUSTON – Inside the hallways of NRG Stadium, a long line of customized cleats were on display across tables outside the Texans’ locker room.

All of the cleats have a special meaning as part of My Cause, My Cleats, the NFL initiative designed to let players raise awareness and money for causes they’re passionate about and choose to support.

In the case of Texans defensive end Dylan Horton, his blue-red-and-white cleats hold particular significant. They’re emblazoned with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society emblem. Horton is in remission after winning his battle against Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and rang the bell at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where he was treated successfully after being diagnosed last year and being placed on the non-football illness list.

“It’s cool, man,” Horton said while holding and looking at his cleats. “I’m excited to bring awareness to this and to so many people about this situation. You can’t do it alone. I’m blessed to have this platform to bring as many people to know about them as possible to help and support them. It’s a community”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and several teammates said they were inspired by Horton’s positive attitude, never giving in to despair while he was in the fight of his life. He leaned heavily on his faith during that trying time and his family.

“Just kind of being around people, around my support system and family, coming up to the facility and having that positivity,” Horton said. “”Faith, No. 1, my Lord and God to help me get through whatever I needed. I can’t do anything without God.”

Hours before kickoff against the Buffalo Bills, Stacey Horton and Ron Horton couldn’t stop smiling. The parents were busting with pride after driving to Houston from Frisco to watch their son omplete his inspirational victory over something much more daunting than any football opponent.

Horton was activated from the reserve-non-football illness list and played in a game for the first time since he was diagnosed as a rookie last year.

“Oh my God, first of all, we want to give all glory and honor to our lord and savior, Jesus Christ and we just want to thank him for this amazing opportunity,” Stacey Horton told KPRC 2. “We’re so proud of Dylan, the fight he has shown, his determination. We are absolutely thrilled for him.”

Horton celebrated his return by chasing after Bills star quarterback Josh Allen during a 23-20 win at NRG Stadium. He played 15 snaps, 21 percent of the defensive playing time and recorded one tackle. His presence on the field one year after his rookie season ended prematurely when he was place on the non-football illness list was a win itself.

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For Horton, 24, a fourth-round draft pick last year from TCU, his journey from cancer patient to resuming his football career is one defined by perseverance.

He tackled his battle with cancer like it was an opponent on the field, eventually ringing the bell to signify his remission.

Despite his circumstances, Horton didn’t give into self-pity. He maintained his positive attitude.

“I feel like it’s easy to reciprocate coming up the facility where everybody is positive,” Horton said. “It’s easy to reciprocate that energy and it’s always easy to spread positivity when it’s around you. I had my family, my friends around while I was going through everything. Especially coming to the facility, just having that routine, having those people around me who believed in me and just loving me.”

And to have his parents watching his moment of triumph was special for Horton.

When Ryans highlighted plays from the Texans’ win over the Bills, he made it a point to emphasize Horton’s contributions during a team meeting.

“Exciting to see Dylan, he stepped in, he sent the edge really well,” Ryans said. “He got after the quarterback. Dylan did a really nice job. I keep saying an awesome story, but he is an awesome young man and he is a pleasure to work with, pleasure to be around, such a great spirit.

“It is so encouraging and motivating to see him go out, missing as much time as he did, but he was still able to come in and affect the game. He made a really nice play where he set the edge, got off a block and made a physical tackle on the running backs. It was one of the first plays I showed the team and everybody just clapping for him, excited for Dylan.”

Several players, coaches and staff are participating in My Cause, My Cleats. Texans owner Cal McNair is supporting the Houston Fire Department and recently visited Fire Station No. 33 with his wife, Hannah McNair, the team’s foundation vice president.

Texans wide receiver Tank Dell, a victim of a mass shooting this offseason in Florida, is raising awareness about gun safety.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, whose father is in a California prison, is honoring single mothers like his mom, Kimberly, of children of incarcerated fathers.

Texans running back Joe Mixon is honoring the late Peyton Nichole Jones, who died of cancer in 2019 at age 17. She was a former teammate’s younger sister and Mixon spoke at her funeral.

Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is raising awareness about the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. He hopes for pace in the Middle East.

Players can donate the customized cleats to NFL Auction and fans can bid on them with all proceeds going toward the respective groups. Here’s the link to bid.

Here is the full list of the Texans’ players who are participating this year and their respective causes:

Azeez Al-Shaair: Palestine Children’s Relief Fund

Will Anderson Jr.: Houston Food Bank

Kris Boyd: Big Brothers Giving Back

Nico Collins: The Chosen Foundation

Tank Dell: Everytown for Gun Safety

Mario Edwards Jr.: SHAPE Community Center

Ka’imi Fairbairn: Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance

Folorunso Fatukasi: Rock the Block Foundation

Blake Fisher: Riley Children’s Health and Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Indiana Corridor

Neville Hewitt: The Freedom Child Foundation

Dylan Horton: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Tytus Howard: YMCA

Xavier Hutchinson: The Fortune Society

Johnny Johnson III: MENS X MENTAL INC

Case Keenum: Compassion International

Davis Mills: Friends For Life Animal Shelter

Joe Mixon: Cancer Awareness

Eric Murray: Rebuilding Together Houston

Dare Ogunbowale: Special Olympics

Jeff Okudah: Jump$tart Coalition

Del’Shawn Phillips: The Del’Shawn Phillips Foundation

Jalen Pitre: Kids Meals

Jayden Peevy: Allergy and Asthma Network

D’Angelo Ross: American Cancer Society

Juice Scruggs: Everytown for Gun Safety

Tim Settle Jr.: Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Steven Sims: Breast Cancer Awareness

C.J. Stroud: Single Mothers Empowerment & Awareness for Children with Incarcerated Parents

J.J. Taylor: MENS X MENTAL INC

Jared Wayne: Orange Arrow

Jon Weeks: Child Advocates and Kirstyn’s Krew

Devin White: Healing with Horses Louisiana

Robert Woods: Make-a-Wish Foundation

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