HOUSTON – The NFL recently announced that four Houston Texans players—Azeez Al-Shaair, Will Anderson Jr., Nico Collins, and Derek Stingley Jr.—have made the roster for the 2026 Pro Bowl. Among them, Anderson, Collins, and Stingley earned spots as starters.
Azeez Al-Shaair, in his second season with the Texans, is celebrating his first Pro Bowl selection in a seven-year career. Originally from Tampa, Florida, he has been a standout this season, starting all 14 games while leading the team with 96 tackles. He has also recorded eight passes defensed, two quarterback hits, an interception, and a fumble recovery. His efforts have helped the Texans’ defense lead the NFL, allowing just 272.3 yards and 16.6 points per game.
Will Anderson Jr. is having an impressive third season after being the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. This is his first selection as a Pro Bowl starter. He has played all 15 games so far and set career highs this season with 11.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He ranks fifth in the AFC for sacks and fourth for tackles for loss. Notably, he has the third-most quarterback pressures in the NFL with 79 and has consistently pressured opponents.
Nico Collins has made history by becoming the first Texans wide receiver to land back-to-back Pro Bowl spots since DeAndre Hopkins accomplished it in 2018. This season, he’s seventh in the NFL for receiving yards with 1,060 and has achieved six receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. With three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, he now stands alongside franchise legends Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. Collins is also tied for the NFL lead with four receptions of 50-plus yards this season.
Derek Stingley Jr. joins Al-Shaair in this Pro Bowl class, earning his second straight selection. He made history as only the second cornerback in Texans history to receive consecutive Pro Bowl honors. This season, he has tallied 13 passes defensed and four interceptions. Remarkably, he is the only player in the league to achieve at least four interceptions for three consecutive seasons. In a standout moment in Week 16 against Las Vegas, he scored his first career interception return touchdown.
Additionally, three more Texans players—S Calen Bullock, CB Kamari Lassiter, and S Jalen Pitre—have been named as alternates for the Pro Bowl.
The 2026 Pro Bowl Games will be a unique televised event at the Moscone Center, transforming into a flag football arena. It will be aired on ESPN starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 3, with the flag game kicking off at 8 p.m. ET. Prior to the game, ESPN will showcase player stories and rosters on February 1.
According to a recent survey by the NFL, fans are increasingly in favor of the shift to flag football for the Pro Bowl, with 65% expressing excitement over this new format. This change reflects a broader trend in the league towards prioritizing player safety while still delivering an entertaining experience for fans.
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