When Laremy Tunsil checks his Twitter feed, the first Tweet he sees is this one:
This offseason, Tunsil tweeted four words and pinned it to the top of his timeline as a reminder of what one sports outlet thought of his skills as a two-time Pro Bowl left tackle.
"I think the article came out during the offseason and it had me as a very good starter," Tunsil said. "It rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't like it. So every time I go to my Twitter feed and I see that tweet, it just motivates me to be better each and every day and every game."
Now in his seventh NFL season and fifth with the Texans, Tunsil is quietly having a better than "very good" season. He likes to think of himself as LT1: the best left tackle in the league. But Tunsil lets his play on the field speak for itself.
"I think Laremy is an elite player in this league," Texans Offensive Coordinator Pep Hamilton said. "I think that is well-documented."
Through 11 games this season, Tunsil owns the highest pass blocking grade (90.8) among all linemen in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. He is one-of-six tackles in the NFL who have allowed at most one sac (minimum of 600 snaps) and tied for first in the AFC for least pressures allowed (9) among linemen (minimum of 400 snaps). Tunsil posted a 82.4 PFF grade in Weeks 1-12, which was the sixth-highest among tackles in that time span.
Yet, there is one more accolade that Tunsil takes exceptional pride in this year.
"I'm a captain now," Tunsil said. "I got that C."
For the first time in his NFL career, Tunsil was named team captain. For anyone that thinks being a team captain isn't all that important, Tunsil will disagree. As one of the veterans in the locker room, Tunsil takes a lot of pride in wearing a "C" on his jersey.
"It's dope, man," Tunsil said. "It's actually an honor. I don't know what to say about that one. It's just first time being a captain. It feels great. It really feels great to be honored by my teammates and my coach."
Tunsil and the Texans will next host the Cleveland Browns in Week 13. Sunday's kickoff is set for noon CT on CBS and SportsRadio 610.
Tap to browse tickets for the Houston Texans next home game vs. the Cleveland Browns here.
On Sunday, the Houston Texans will be joining players around the league to raise awareness about a cause close to their hearts by wearing it on their feet. This year, 50 Texans players will be participating in My Cause My Cleats.
Find the complete list of players and their causes here.
LB Christian Harris - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
OL A.J. Cann - Anti-Bullying
OL Austin Deculus - AMIKids
WR Brandin Cooks - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
LB Blake Cashman - TB1Fund
TE Brevin Jordan - Breast Cancer & Diabetes
RB Dameon Pierce - Boots For Troops & US Patriotic Service Dog Foundation
WR Chris Moore - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
WR Davion Davis - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
RB Dare Ogunbowale - Special Olympics of Milwaukee
LB Christian Kirksey - Black Women's Health Imperative
QB Jeff Driskel - Orlando Health Foundation & Ronald McDonald House
RB Eno Benjamin - American Heart Association
LB Garret Wallow - American Cancer Society
DB Jalen Pitre - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
DB Desmond King II - Autism Speaks
WR Jalen Camp - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
LB Neville Hewitt - The Freedom Child Foundation
WR Johnny Johnson III - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
LS Jon Weeks - Kirstyn's Krew & Child Advocates
DB Jonathan Owens - Bam Fam Foundation
K Ka'Imi Fairbairn - The Ocean Cleanup
QB Kyle Allen - Jessie Rees Foundation, NEGU
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin - National Kidney Foundation
RB Rex Burkhead - Team Jack Foundation
DL Ogbo Okoronkwo - Covenant House Texas
DL Rasheem Green - American Cancer Society
OL Scott Quessenberry - Leukemia Awareness
DL Thomas Booker - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
DB Tavierre Thomas - Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)
OL Tytus Howard - YMCA
DL Mario Addison - Mario Addison Community Partnership
FB Troy Hairston - Detroit P.A.L. (Police Activities League)
DB Tremon Smith - Breast Cancer Awareness
DL Jerry Hughes - Pro-Vision Academy
LB Jake Hansen - Organization for Autism Research
WR Phillip Dorsett - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
DB M.J. Stewart - Epilepsy Foundation
QB Davis Mills - Houston Food Bank
OL K.C. McDermott - Hungry Heros
DB Steven Nelson - Diabetes Awareness
DB Grayland Arnold - Huntington's Disease
DL Maliek Collins - CoolxDad
WR Nico Collins - Cancer Awareness & Alzheimer's Awareness
RB Royce Freeman - Sickle Cell Awareness
LB Buddy Johnson - Trayveon Williams Hopes Dreams Foundation
WR Drew Estrada - Leukemia Awareness, in support of WR John Metchie III
OL Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms - The Foundation for Premature Infants
