No. 39 - Justin Houston
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No. 39 - Justin Houston, LB from Statesboro
It’s no secret that the Georgia Bulldogs have developed some of the NFL’s best linebackers over the last few years.
One of the best is current Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Justin Houston. The former three-star linebacker out of Statesboro (GA) committed to Georgia on 6/14/2006 and signed with Georgia in the 2007 class. Houston was an All-Region selection in two years at Statesboro, winning a state championship in 2005 with future Georgia Bulldog and Super Bowl Champion DeAngelo Tyson.
As a red-shirt freshman in 2008, Houston recorded 19 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. As a junior in 2009, Houston totaled 39 tackles, 15 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks, becoming one of the top defenders in the SEC. As a junior in 2010, Houston flourished in new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme. Houston wreaked havoc with 67 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, and 10 sacks, which ranked 2nd in the SEC that season. Houston’s best game as a Bulldog came in 2010 against Georgia Tech where he recorded 7 tackles, recovered a fumble for an 18-yard touchdown, and sealed the victory in the final seconds with an interception. During his career at Georgia, the Bulldogs were a combined 24-15.
Houston earned All-SEC honors and All-American honors after that junior season before entering the 2011 NFL draft. After concerns about his off-field behavior, Houston dropped all the way into the 3rd round. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 3rd round with the 70th overall pick.
Houston’s career started off with a bang, playing in all 16 games as a rookie in 2011, finishing the season with 46 tackles and 5 sacks. In his 8 years in Kansas City from 2011-2018, Houston totaled 318 tackles, 78.5 sacks, and four interceptions. Houston broke the Chiefs franchise record for sacks in a season with 22 sacks in 2014, leading the NFL. He was a Pro Bowl selection in four consecutive seasons from 2012-2015, earning First-Team All-Pro honors in 2014.
Houston was released by the Chiefs on March 10th, 2019, and was signed by the Indianapolis Colts on March 21st.