Houston Texans Veteran Steven Nelson Retires After Nine NFL Seasons

HOUSTON – Steven Nelson, a veteran NFL cornerback and team captain for the Houston Texans, has announced his retirement after nine successful seasons. Nelson, who played a pivotal role in the Texans' AFC South championship last season, revealed his decision in an exclusive interview with KPRC 2.

Nelson's retirement comes after a standout season where he intercepted a career-high five passes, including an impressive 82-yard interception return for a touchdown in the AFC wild-card playoff game against the Cleveland Browns. His performance on the field made a significant impact, but Nelson has chosen to step away from football to focus on his family and business ventures.

The former Kansas City Chiefs third-round draft pick from Oregon State and native of Warner Robins, Georgia, shared that his decision was influenced by his desire to spend more time with his pregnant wife, Monica, and their growing family. Nelson also plans to dedicate time to his business interests, including a large livestock farm in Montgomery County and his Corner Suite Podcast.

“Retirement, after thinking it over and having some talks with my family, I think it’s time for me to take a step back and spend more time with my family,” Nelson said. “We’re expecting a newborn this coming month, and I wanted to devote all of my time and energy to that and various business ventures off the field. I’m extremely proud of what I was able to do in the game of football."

Nelson's career trajectory is a testament to his perseverance. Coming from a small town with limited resources, he went to junior college before attending Oregon State, which took him far from home. Despite numerous challenges, Nelson's dedication saw him through to a successful NFL career.

At 31, Nelson has had an illustrious career with stints at the Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Texans in 2023. Over his 130 career games, he made 115 starts, recording 13 interceptions, 87 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one sack, 456 tackles, and 11 tackles for losses. Last season, Nelson intercepted four passes and allowed just one touchdown pass.

Nelson expressed gratitude for his career and the relationships he built along the way. “I think I’ll be remembered, mostly by my teammates, the guys that I played with and put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears with, as a leader and somebody that not only tries to lead by words but through my actions,” Nelson said. “Being a true pro and doing everything the right way.”

Despite receiving interest from multiple NFL teams, including the Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, Washington Commanders, and Miami Dolphins, Nelson chose to retire. He did, however, leave the door open for a potential return if the right opportunity arises in the future.

“I always will keep my body in shape and will always be ready if the right opportunity comes or I feel like the timing is right and my heart is into it, I’ll do it,” Nelson said. “As of now, I think it’s best for me to take a step back and just enjoy my family.”

Nelson's retirement marks the end of an era for one of the most consistent and respected cornerbacks in recent NFL history.