Texans Plan to Re-Sign Safety M.J. Stewart to One-Year Deal

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According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Houston Texans plan to re-sign veteran safety M.J. Stewart to a one-year deal.

Stewart quietly became a valuable piece of Houston’s secondary last season.

When the Texans released C.J. Gardner-Johnson early in the year, Stewart stepped into the strong safety role and filled in nicely before suffering a quad injury in Week 10. In nine games, including four starts, the eight-year veteran recorded 25 tackles and two pass deflections.

While Stewart doesn’t always receive much attention from fans, coaches have consistently valued what he brings to the field.

He plays with discipline, strong football IQ, and understands where he needs to be within the structure of the defense — traits that are critical for the strong safety position in DeMeco Ryans’ system. Stewart also plays aggressively while maintaining gap integrity, something the Texans emphasize heavily within their defensive philosophy.

Beyond his defensive snaps, Stewart has long been a reliable contributor on special teams. That combination of versatility and experience makes him a useful piece of depth for Houston’s secondary.

At worst, Stewart provides quality depth and a dependable special teams presence. At best, he once again proves capable of stepping in and handling starting responsibilities if needed.

It’s the type of low-risk move that strengthens the back end of the roster while maintaining the defensive identity Houston wants to build.

Stewart fits the SWARM mentality.