Texans Flashbacks: Brian Cushing

“Cush”

Brian Cushing was nothing short of a star for the Texans during his short nine-year career. Cushing was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft (15th overall) by the Houston Texans.

Cushing immediately made an impact on the field, winning the 2009 AP defensive rookie of the year award and earning a spot in the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl.

Cushing’s stats in ’09 were:

Four interceptions, Two forced fumbles, Four Sacks, and 86 tackles.

Stats like that are impressive for a linebacker, even more so when you’re a rookie. Cushing would go on to put up consistent numbers throughout his career but battled through season-ending injuries in both 2012 and 2013.

Cushing was a force on defense for the Texans, especially during their first playoff run in 2011 with then-rookie star J.J Watt. Cushing had two interceptions, 76 tackles, and four sacks in 2011.

Where is Cushing now?

Brian Cushing retired from the NFL following the 2017 season after being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), and would later be released by the Texans.

Cushing would eventually rejoin the Texans organization, ironically, as the strength and conditioning coach in 2019.

Brian Cushing was one of the best players to ever don a Texans jersey, it’s a shame that his career ended the way it did, but Cushing will no doubt be remembered as one of the greatest Texans of all time.

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