Johnathan Joseph was a transformative player.
On and off the field, he made the franchise better.
Joseph came to Houston in 2011 when the defense sorely needed him. In 2010, the Texans stumbled to a 6-10 mark, in large part to a passing defense that ranked dead last in the NFL in yards allowed, and next-to-last in the League in touchdown passes permitted. That script was flipped the next year, as new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips came to town and got help in the form of Joseph, safety Danieal Manning, a healthy Connor Barwin and a rookie named J.J. Watt. That quintet wasn't around in 2010, and it was a big reason the Texans went to the playoffs in 2011.
Joseph arrived in late July on the heels of the lockout ending. He spent his first five years in the League with the Bengals. It didn't take long for him to make an impact, either. Joseph picked off his first pass in a Week 2 win at Miami, as the Texans coasted to a 23-13 victory. He'd finish with three more interceptions that year and take the first of his two trips to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.
His leadership in the secondary was vital this decade as well. In 2010, rookie Kareem Jackson and second-year Glover Quin both struggled at cornerback. Quin was moved to safety, where he flourished. Joseph was a mentor to Jackson, and the duo wound up trading the franchise lead for career interceptions as the years progressed.
Joseph's spot in the southwest corner of the locker room would routinely have three, four and sometimes more players gathered around him. His was a voice that carried significance, and he commanded the respect of everyone around him, whether they were teammates, coaches or team staff.
In the community, he routinely gave back to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston, and was a regular over the years at Black History month activities.
Joseph exits as the franchise leader in picks (17), interceptions returned for scores (4) and passes defensed (118), and he's fifth all-time in tackles with 482. Further, he's sixth in NFL history in the passes defensed category, and has the fourth-most interceptions among active players with 31.
The Houston Texans and CB Johnathan Joseph have mutually agreed that he will enter free agency. Check out some of the best shots from his time as a Texan.
An image from the Dec. 29, 2019 regular season home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans lost 35-14.
Johnathan Joseph return in the the 2011 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
An image from the Nov. 17, 2013 regular season home game against the Oakland Raiders. The Texans lost 23-28.
An image from the Dec. 29, 2019 regular season home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans lost 35-14.
An image from the Dec. 1, 2019 regular season home game against the New England Patriots. The Texans won 28-22.
An image from the Dec. 21, 2019 regular season away game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans won 23-20.
Johnathan Joseph started the Houston Texans 2011 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
An image from the Dec. 15, 2019 regular season away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans won 24-21.
An image from the Nov. 3, 2019 regular season away game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 26-3.
An image from the Nov. 3, 2019 regular season away game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 26-3.
An image from the Sept. 15, 2019 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 13-12.
An image from the Oct. 27, 2019 regular season home game against the Oakland Raiders. The Texans won 27-24.
An image from the Oct. 6, 2019 regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Texans won 53-32.
An image from the March 21, 2019 corporate development event at IAH in which Texans players, cheerleaders and TORO visited United Airlines workers and participated in airline operational activities.
An image from the Sept. 15, 2019 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 13-12.
An image from the April 16, 2019 offseason workout.
An image from the March 21, 2019 corporate development event at IAH in which Texans players, cheerleaders and TORO visited United Airlines workers and participated in airline operational activities.
An image from the Nov. 10, 2013 regular season away game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Texans lost 24-27.
An image from the Jan. 5, 2019 Wildcard game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans lost 7-21.
fAn image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
An image from the Oct. 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans won 20-13.
Celebration after Johnathan Joseph's interception against the New Orleans Saints in 2011.
An image from the Oct. 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans won 20-13.
An image from the Aug. 11, 2018 training camp practice in Houston, TX.
1An image from the Dec. 1, 2019 regular season home game against the New England Patriots. The Texans won 28-22.
1An image from the Dec. 1, 2019 regular season home game against the New England Patriots. The Texans won 28-22.
An image from the Nov. 12, 2019 event.
An image from the Sept. 15, 2019 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 13-12.
An image from the March 21, 2019 corporate development event at IAH in which Texans players, cheerleaders and TORO visited United Airlines workers and participated in airline operational activities.
An image from the July 13, 2019 Play Safe Moms Clinic at the Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, TX.
An image from the Sept. 15, 2019 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 13-12.
An image from the Sept. 15, 2019 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 13-12.
An image from the August 6, 2019 Texans joint training camp practice with the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, WI.
An image from the April 8, 2019 LSSE event, the Champions Cup Press Conference, held at the Houston Texans YMCA.
An image from the Aug. 9, 2017 preseason away game against the Carolina Panthers. The Texans lost 17-27.
An image from the Oct. 8, 2017 regular season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans lost 34-42.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2014 regular season home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Texans lost 13-22.
An image from the Nov. 13, 2018 corporate development event at a Palais Royal store featuring TORO, the Texans Cheerleaders, Jadeveon Clowney and Johnathan Joseph.
An image from the Nov. 23, 2014 regular season home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Texans lost 13-22.
