HOUSTON – Texans defensive end Dylan Horton, a survivor of Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma who won his battle with cancer to play again this season, was named the AFC South champions’ annual Ed Courage award winner.
The award, voted on in balloting by his teammates, is one of the most prestigious honors in the NFL as it signifies individuals from the 32 teams that have overcome adversity on or off the field.
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Earlier this season, Horton, a former fourth-round draft pick from TCU, wore blue-and-red cleats emblazoned with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society emblem. Horton is in remission 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. In 21 career games, Horton has recorded 21 tackles, four quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss and one fumble recovery.
“It’s a special feeling,” Horton told KPRC 2. “Nominated by my teammates, the people who have been around me going through what I’m going through, I’m blessed to be in this position. I’m blessed to have the support that I do from my teammates, my family, having my faith was the pillar of this whole journey that I’ve been on and having moral support the whole time. Having faith you can get through this situation, that’s the thing I relied on and my family.”
#Texans Dylan Horton @dhorton_98 'It's a special feeling' being named Ed Block Courage award winner @EdBlock by his teammates @MDAndersonNews @LLSusa https://t.co/tOXoqAd2YH
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 2, 2025
#Texans defensive end Dylan Horton, who recovered from Stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma to return to play again, on #MyCauseMyCleats devoted to @LLSusa he was treated @MDAndersonNews @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/ygOk95W34p
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 27, 2024
Past winners of the award include teammate John Metchie III, who beat a treatable form of leukemia to resume his football career.
“It’s a beautiful feeling,” Horton said. “Being with people who overcame something hard situations and be an inspiration of sorts.”
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.”
Stacey Horton and Ron Horton couldn’t stop smiling before kickoff at Horton’s first game back against the Buffalo Bills in October. 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.
For Horton, 24,, 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 set 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.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
