HOUSTON – When the Texans approached linebacker Jake Hansen about extending his contract, he didn’t hesitate.
The relationship between the Texans and the former Illinois standout began when he joined them as an undrafted free agent after playing for Lovie Smith as his college head coach.
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Flash forward five years later and Hansen is still around as a vital part of the Texans’ highly-rated special teams units and as a reliable backup linebacker. He signed a one-year, $3 million maximum value contract through the 2026 season that includes a $750,000 signing bonus.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Hansen, who is represented by veteran agent Carter Chow of Red Envelope Sports. “Just kind of basically you’re appreciating the work I put in. I’ve kept my head down for a few years and I believe I’ve earned it. So, it’s great to be rewarded for hard work.
“It takes a lot of self-belief and like just being undrafted, I think you have to have a play with a little bit extra chip on your shoulder. It just takes a lot of self-belief. When other people may not believe you coming into the process, but continuing to believe in yourself and not listen to other opinions is really important.”
Hansen, 27, first joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of Illinois as he reunited with Lovie Smith, his college head coach.
Hansen forged a spot on the 53-man roster as a rookie and has been with the AFC South franchise ever since. He re-signed with the Texans in March on a one-year, $2 million deal.
Hansen has emerged as one of the Texans’ top special-teams contributors. In eight games this season, he has 10 tackles while playing 82 percent of the special-teams snaps.
For his career, he has appeared in 49 games with four starts, including two last season for a division winner. He has 75 career tackles, three for losses, three quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery and two sacks.
‘After doing five years in Houston, this was an easy choice for me. We have great people, great coaches, great management, just a great staff here in Houston. The organization is first-class. They do things the right way. So, it was it was an easy decision.“
The deal includes a $1.625 million base salary in 2026 with $500,000 fully guaranteed, up to $225,000 in per game active roster bonuses, a $75,000 workout bonus with $1.625 million total guaranteed, including $400,000 total guaranteed from a March 14, 2025 deal for one year and $2.425 million.
As a rookie, Hansen played in 11 games with two starts. He recorded 25 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery with two tackles for losses. He played 205 defensive snaps, 27 percent of the total defensive snaps, and 148 snaps for 50 percent of the special-teams snaps.
Six games into his final college season, Hansen tore his anterior cruciate ligament at Illinois during a shutout loss to Wisconsin.
That led to him going undrafted after finishing his career with 276 tackles, 28 1/2 for losses, eight sacks, 12 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He ranked second in school history in forced fumbles to Simeon Rice.
It all began with playing for Lovie.
“How surreal is this, man?” Hansen said. “It’s crazy. I still talk to him and because he’s my coach in college. I think I owe him some royalties or something on the deal. But he’s a great dude and he’s like family. So, maybe a dinner in Arizona or something.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com .