How Texans All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. wants to ‘prove they were right’ with constant improvement after $90 million deal

HOUSTON – When the Texans hammered out a three-year, $90 million contract extension with All-Pro defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. he became the new highest-paid cornerback in the league for the majority of the offseason.

And the hard-working Louisiana native briefly celebrated in low-key fashion with his family and girlfriend.

It wasn’t long, though, before Stingley got back to work in the weight room with another patented grueling workout.

True to who he is, Stingley was actually working out with his father and private coach, Derek Stingley Sr. when they received word that the deal was completed. Stingley received a $25 million signing bonus and an average annual compensation milestone of $30 million in new money in a blockbuster deal that has $89 million total guaranteed and reset the marketplace for elite defensive backs.

Now, only New York Jets star Sauce Gardner Jr. makes more than Stingley annually at the cornerback position with a $30.1 million yearly average compensation.

The body of work Stingley is building sets the foundation for a long, lucrative and perhaps a potential Pro Football Hall of Fame career. With rare ball skills, coverage techniques, recovery speed and an ability to run receivers’ routes for them and catch the football as well as an offensive skill player, Stingley is just that good.

And Stingley is determined to show that the Texans made a great decision with their hefty investment in him.

“I appreciate them for believing in me and all that, but I just got to prove that they were right, whatever, but I really forgot about that to be honest,” Stingley told KPRC 2. “I’m just out here just with my teammates, practicing.”

How did Stingley celebrate a deal negotiated by Austin-based agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First and Texans general manager Nick Caserio?

With a simple meal: a bucket of crawfish spread across a picnic table. He keeps a tight inner circle comprised of his father, his mother, sister and his girlfriend.

Investing in Stingley made perfect, logical sense to an organization that values so many things about Stingley, including his character and dedication to football, fitness and film study.

Natural cover skills.

The seemingly effortless acceleration and athleticism.

How instinctively Stingley racks and catches the football, with soft hands that rival wide receivers’ grip and fundamentals.

The underrated, hard-nosed aspect of his game, and how he embraces tackling as a willing and capable thumper.

So, the Texans stepped up in a major way by rewarding Stingley for the player he is and with the hope that he’ll continue to be an elite corner for years and years to come. This deal likely only sets the stage for future contract extensions for Stingley with the Texans.

Now, Stingley is simply enjoying working at his craft after a summer that included an annual CoverOne defensive backs destination retreat and training sessions in Puerto Rico with his father and several teammates.

The impact of his father, on and off the field, and importance of family resonate in the strongest possible way for Stingley.

“I wouldn’t know nothing if I didn’t have him,” Stingley said. “So, he means a lot."

How does Stingley manage to catch the football with the precision and soft hands of a wide receiver? That was instilled in him by his father.

“That just comes from working on hand-eye coordination with my dad growing up,” Stingley said. “And whether that’s front yard, back yard, whatever, we just always was catching the football.”

A former third overall pick of the draft and consensus All-American at LSU, Stingley has intercepted a combined 10 passes with five interceptions each of the past two seasons with 11 career interceptions and 36 passes defensed. He intercepted an additional two passes in the playoffs last season to finish the season with seven interceptions overall. He allowed just 382 passing yards with a 47.1 completion percentage and an opposing passer rating of only 51.2. He yielded just 249 air yards and 9.6 yards per reception.

Scary thought for opponents: Stingley looks even better in training camp as he squares off in a friendly competition with Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins matching his movements step for step as he mirrors his routes.

“What I’ve seen from him throughout camp, Stingley is just consistent,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans siad. “He’s quiet over there on the edge and that’s what it takes to be a really great corner. There shouldn’t be a lot happening your way because a lot of people don’t want to go your way, but him and Nico, they go at it every single day.

“Those are two of our best guys. They match up against each other every rep and that’s good-on-good every single time. Those guys, they sharpen each other every time they’re out here, so Sting has continued to be steady, picking up right where he left off.”

Although many players might be content with their accomplishments, complacency isn’t a part of Stingley’s vocabulary.

“Yeah, you can’t be too high or too low in this game regardless of the position that you’re playing,” Stingley said. “If you think about something bad, it’s just going to be bad for the rest of the time that you’re out there, so you got to move on.”

Where can Stingley keep improving in the different facets of his game?

“Everything: feet, hands, eyes, eye discipline,” he said. “Everything, it’s always going to get better.”

A year ago, the Texans combined for 19 interceptions for the second most in the NFL behind the Minnesota Vikings’ 24 interceptions.

The NFL record was established in 1961 for the then-San Diego Chargers with 49 interceptions.

“Everybody we’ve got on defense knows how to get the ball,” Stingley said, “I feel like if we get the opportunity, we just got to come down with the ball. Just like every year, just making sure we build some chemistry and just get better than it was the day before.”

When Stingley isn’t playing football, he’s relaxing on his couch watching movies. He’s not a big cook, but says he can make eggs.

Stingley has base salaries of $1.431 million in 2025, $21.595 million in 2026 that are fully guaranteed, $20 million in 2027 guaranteed for injury that will become fully guaranteed by March of 2026, $21 million in 2028 guaranteed for injury at signing that becomes fully guaranteed in March of 2027 and $21 million in 2029. The total package is five years and worth $113 million overall, including a $1 million roster bonus in 2029 and per-game active roster bonuses up to $500,000 from 2026 to 2029.

Stingley surpassed Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn’s four-year, $100 million contract that briefly made him the NFL’s highest paid corner in the league. Both deals were negotiated by Mulugheta.

Stingley’s new deal topped Horn’s $25 million annual average along with Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, an All-Pro selection like Stingley, playing under a four-year, $96 million extension that averages $24 million annually, just a bit less than Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey’s three-year, $72.3 million deal that averages $24.1 million. Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (four years, $84 million, $21 million average), Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (four years, $81 million, $20.25 million average) and Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (five years, $100.5 million, $20.1 million average) are the next highest paid corners.

“That means a lot,” Stingley said. “Especially throughout the years, just every single year it seems like I’ve gained their trust more. They’re allowing me to be comfortable with who I am, whether that’s on the field or off the field. So, there was never any pressure to be this person or be that person. So, I think it’s pretty cool. They actually believe in me, so that’s nice.”

The conversations with Ryans and Caserio as the deal was completed followed a recurring theme: don’t change.

“Really just staying true to who you are,” Stingley said. “You’ve got it, OK, but it’s still football at the end of the day. Just go out there and be myself and continue doing what I’m doing.”

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All of Stingley’s skills and talent have been encouraged and nurtured carefully by his father.

Through every step in his development, Stingley’s father has been with him to support his dreams. It was fitting that they were together when the big moment arrived.

“Without my dad, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” Stingley said. “I mean, just with everything. I wouldn’t even be who I am. Everything, that’s all I can say. I mean, I wouldn’t be me.”

How much Stingley is boosted by his close-knit inner circle of his parents, girlfriend, extended family and friends isn’t something he takes for granted.

He’s building a legacy on the football field, but he doesn’t try to do it alone.

“A lot of people don’t have the support around me that I have,” Stingley said. “That’s a blessing, I’ll take that. Then when I think about grandkids and all that, they’ll be able to say what I’ve done. So, I’m proud of that, I am trying to do everything that my support system has done for me.”

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Retired All-Pro corner Antonio Cromartie has been watching Stingley’s game for years, believing in his skills long before many others started stating the obvious point that he’s the top all-around cornerback from his draft class over Gardner.

“Look at the way Sting carries himself, how he plays the game, he’s a true playmaker who has picked up his game every single year,” Cromartie told KPRC 2. “He has improved year in and year out. You’re talking about a kid with great ball skills, great cover skills and he can do anything you want to do at the cornerback position. He’s making tackles. He’s a lot more physical this year. He’s definitely someone who loves ball and has confidence in his abilities. That speaks a lot more to his love and passion for the game.

“Being great is having confidence in yourself and knowing you’re the best at what you’re doing, which helps elevate your game. He’s very enjoyable to watch. I loved watching him at LSU. He had the best ball skills of any player, of any receiver, his body control, the way he can put himself in position to go and make a play. You can’t teach that God-given talent, but he has learned other things and you see him flourish. You can see that father influence his dad puts on him, driving and pushing himself to be the best he can. When you got a dad in your corner who wants the best for you, you never get complacent.”

Stingley was certainly deserving of this blockbuster payday, which the Texans were more than amenable to negotiating.

“He is probably the best athlete I have been around in my life,” said Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who’s also represented by Mulugheta. “Ball skills, speed, strength, size and just someone who I have seen grow as a player. I am just very happy for him. I think he is going to be great in this league for a long time.”

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