HOUSTON – Derek Stingley Jr. read the eyes of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the route perfectly, instinctively shadowing Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Austin Trammell in the final minute of the first half Sunday.
Whatever Lawrence was thinking at the time, it was a bad idea to throw the football in the vicinity of Stingley.
Recommended Videos
The Texans All-Pro corner and $90 million man adeptly undercut the underneath route with authority and confidence, gaining position on Trammell to disrupt the path of the football.
Once he overtook Trammell, that left Stingley to intercept the pass. And he did so with an incredible one-handed, diving snag with his right hand to end a scoring threat in the Texans’ eventual 36-29 comeback victory Sunday at NRG Stadium.
The interception, not a surprise because of Stingley’s vast talents, still left teammates in wonderment.
One of the greatest players I ever played with," Texans standout corner Kamari Lassiter said. “I mean, one-on-one, go out there, dive, undercut the ball, one-hand snag it.
“I didn’t get to see it, because I was covering on the other side, but once I saw the replay, I’m like, ‘Bro, you got to chill out. Bro, you got to chill out.”
True to form and his ultra low-key personality, Stingley didn’t make a big deal out of his 14th career interception and third of the season.
It’s just what he does and what he expects to do when given the opportunity to make an impact. That’s what Stingley has been doing since the Texans drafted him third overall out of LSU.
“I mean we was in man and he just ran the under route and the D-line got some good pressure, especially Tim (Settle Jr.). ‘I almost got there,’” Stingley said. “The D-line did their job.”
And the Texans, in desperate need of a win, picked up their fourth of the season to remain relevant in the AFC wild-card race after an 0-3 start to the year.
The defense held the Jaguars to 11 yards in the fourth quarter while the offense, led by backup quarterback Davis Mills and winning the game on his touchdown scramble, scored 26 unanswered points.
“I mean, that’s just offense, defense, special teams just all working together and going out there doing the whole performance,” Stingley said. “You know, playing together.”
pic.twitter.com/Zjyijwn9HS #Texans All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr.: a special corner makes a special play by undercutting the route for an incredible one-handed interception @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 9, 2025
On Saturday night, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans showed the players a video of a boxer knocking out his opponent despite dislocating his shoulder and gutting it out for the victory,
There were some parallels with the Texans’ resiliency Sunday.
“We all believe in each other, regardless of anybody else,” Stingley said. “We know when we out there on the field, it’s just us on the field.”
When the Texans hammered out a three-year, $90 million contract extension 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 fiancee.
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.
Only Indianapolis Colts standout 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.
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.”
Stingley intercepted a combined 10 passes with five interceptions each of the previous two seasons. 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.
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.”
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.”
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 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.”
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