The Texans have signed unrestricted free agent running back Chris Brown, the team announced Thursday.
Brown (6-3, 220) is entering his sixth NFL season. He was taken in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Brown played in 54 games, starting 29. For his career, Brown has rushed for 2,757 yards and 16 touchdowns. His best season came in 2004 when he cracked the 1,000-yard barrier rushing for 1,067 yards on 220 carries and scored a career-high six touchdowns.
Possessed of a physical running style and quick to hit holes opened by offensive linemen, Brown was drawn to Houston in part by the presence of new assistant head coach/offense Alex Gibbs.
"Gibbs, he's a guru," Brown said. "He started this whole zone blocking scheme, and that's what I really love to run. That's what I ran in college and then ran a little bit in Tennessee, and that's what I'm best at."
Brown was the fifth running back taken in the 2003 draft. He trails only Willis McGahee and Larry Johnson in rushing yards gained by active players from their draft class. Last season, Brown finished second on the Titans with 462 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns. He led the team with a 4.5 yards-per-carry average.
Brown is the third unrestricted free agent to sign with the team. Houston secured the services of cornerback Jacques Reeves and linebacker Kevin Bentley earlier this month. Houston re-signed tight end Mark Bruener, wide receiver André Davis and strong safety Glenn Earl thus far in free agency.
"They've got all the pieces to the puzzle and just need to put them all together," Brown said of the Texans. "They're a team on the rise."
Following are the free agents that the Texans have re-signed (3):
| Player | Height | Weight |
| TE Mark Bruener | 6-4 | 252 |
| WR André Davis | 6-1 | 194 |
| SS Glenn Earl | 6-1 | 213 |
Following are the free agents that the Texans have signed from other teams (3):
| Player | Height | Weight | Former team |
| LB Kevin Bentley | 6-0 | 238 | Seattle Seahawks |
| RB Chris Brown | 6-3 | 220 | Tennessee Titans |
| CB Jacques Reeves | 5-11 | 188 | Dallas Cowboys |
