How Texans’ Jalen Pitre, healthy again, delivers such hard hits: ‘Want-to, determination,’ toughness, technique

HOUSTON – Jalen Pitre uncoiled his body with incredible power, bringing a ton of force and torque into his aiming point as he delivered a crushing, clean tackle with his right shoulder that sent Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet flailing to the ground last season.

The hit-stick tackle initially drew a penalty flag for unnecessary roughness that was quickly picked up as it was clearly not an illegal hit as the Texans’ nickel-safety and Stafford graduate didn’t make contact with his helmet and stuck the much larger Kmet in his shoulder pads.

Kmet was shaken up on the play and later acknowledged on his podcast it was the hardest hit he’s ever absorbed.

Later on in the season, Pitre popped the football out of the hands of Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Guyton with the forced fumble returned for a touchdown by teammate Derek Barnett.

How does the Texans’ hard-hitting nickel deliver such punishing tackles? It’s a combination of

“I think it’s definitely just want-to, just a determination to want to hit somebody and just bringing everything you got and not slowing down,” Pitre told KPRC 2 at his first youth football camp at Stafford High School, his alma mater. “I think that’s the biggest thing. And then, obviously, our coaches do a good job at teaching the proper ways to tackle, the proper angles to hit from, and the legal way to do it.”

When the Texans finalized a three-year, $42.6 million contract extension for Pitre, they felt extremely comfortable making that kind of hefty investment in a young, talented player who loves playing for his hometown team.

The deal, which included a $10 million signing bonus, $29.156 million total guaranteed, a base value of $39 million and an $18 million payout over the next 12 months, acknowledged the Stafford graduate’s market value and his hard-hitting, gritty style of play.

Pitre’s $13 million annual average, negotiated by veteran agents Trey Robinson and Marlon Moore of Athelite, briefly made him the highest paid nickel in the NFL before Chicago Bears slot corner Kyler Gordon eclipsed his deal with a $13. 3 million average compensation two days later.

Pitre is under contract with the Texans through the 2028 season with base salaries of $1.656 million (fully guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap), $9 million (fully guaranteed), $9.5 million with $8.5 million guaranteed and $9.5 million. He has up to $500,000 in per-game active roster bonuses the next two seasons and up to $1 million in per-game active roster bonuses, a rate of $58,823 per game in 2027 and 2028.

“Jalen represents everything you wanted in a player, and in a person,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He is consistent, hard working, very dedicated to putting the team first and doing whatever it takes for the team to be successful. He’s been an outstanding young man to work with. So, I am fired up for Jalen.”

Pitre made a faster recovery than he anticipated from a torn pectoral that ended his season last year and required surgery to repair the damage. Now, he’s back to full activity and has been flying around at organized team activities making an impact. Initially, Pitre thought he might have to miss some time during the spring.

“I just trust the process,” Pitre said. “Shout out to the trainers and the Texans staff and my coaches for giving me a timetable and progressing me along the way. I think I’m at a great spot right now.

‘I’m thankful to be out there with my teammates and back to having fun and back to making plays. So, you know it’s definitely fun to be back out there."

Pitre tore his pectoral last season while tackling Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd and caught the brunt of a collision with teammate Henry To’oTo’o. His absence created a void in the Texans’ defense.

Without Pitre’s hard-hitting style, it became easier for offenses to run the football. And his physical, rangy, instinctive impact in the passing game was felt as well.

Now, the former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is back.

Back at his natural nickel position last season, Pitre started every game before he got hurt. He recorded 65 tackles, six tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one interception and eight passes defensed in a dozen starts.

“Oh, yeah, it’s great,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “It’s awesome, for sure. I feel like we got a team full of those guys. We talked about it last year, obviously like his energy and being in the building and meetings.

“Another guy that really has elite focus on becoming the best whatever you want to call that in the league. Trying to move him around a little bit, we know what his talents are bit. Just the energy, the work ethic, enthusiasm is just unwavering with him. It’s always, always, always a pleasure to be around [S] Jalen.”

The Texans adapted to the loss of Pitre by shifting safety Jimmie Ward to nickel as his replacement. Then, Ward injured his foot and was placed on injured reserve. He underwent surgery, a successful procedure, and is on track for training camp.

Without Pitre and Ward, the Texans eventually turned to Myles Bryant as the primary nickel. He had some solid games, but also allowed an 86-yard touchdown in a playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers to Ladd McConkey and had trouble keeping up with the Chiefs in the divisional round.

The Texans clearly missed Pitre’s presence.

Now, Pitre and All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. are under contract for years to come. Stingley signed a three-year, $90 million contract extension.

“It’s amazing, put a smile on my face,” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “It’s not the goal. Of course, the goal is to be All-Pro, to be one of the most respected, but that’s what comes with that. So, those two guys have done those things as some of the two most respected players in the NFL and to have them on my team and to see them get what I felt was due was just amazing.

“Me and (Pitre) were actually just talking about that. I was in the building a couple months ago and we were talking about it and he really wasn’t sure. But I was like, ‘Bro, you put it on tape, man. Now you just leave it to the people you entrusted to do your contract.’ And to see it go out and see him be the highest paid nickel ever is just super dope and same thing for Sting. We all knew that, though. That dude’s a baller. So, yeah, it’s dope to see.”

The Texans’ defense could be elite this season.

Pitre is part of one of the most talented secondaries in the NFL, including himself, Stingley, Kamari Lassiter, Calen Bullock and C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

“I’m feeling good, ”Pitre said. “I was very thankful to just be back out there with my teammates. It’s nothing like really being out there communicating, making plays, like doing that sort of thing. It’s nothing it’s like it. So thank God for allowing me to get back healthy. And, yeah, it has been exciting so far. And I know it’s just going to continue to build going into the season.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com