The Houston Texans have high hopes for David Montgomery, who could prove to be a bargain on the two-year, $16.5 million contract he received following his trade from the Detroit Lions this offseason.
The former Chicago Bears star is exactly the kind of hard-nosed presence the team lacked in the backfield last season.
Moreover, he is a perennial fan favorite and is well on his way to becoming one in Houston.
Texans Feature David Montgomery in New Video
GettyDavid Montgomery is among the participants in the Houston Texans’ voluntary workouts.
Montgomery, 73rd overall pick of the 2019 draft by the Bears. He spent the first four seasons of his career with Chicago before joining Detroit in free agency. Montgomery joins the Texans with 6,115 yards and 59 touchdowns on 1,477 carries in his career.
The Texans took to social media on Wednesday, sharing various clips from their voluntary workouts, including one that featured Montgomery.
“Oh hey, @MontgomerDavid [hand waving emoji],” the Texans posted on X on May 6.
“David Montgomery, who has been fairly healthy throughout his career, should give Houston’s running game a boost. The former 1,000-yard rusher fits what the Texans are trying to build as a power running team,” the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander wrote on May 6.
“And then Woody Marks returning as a backup and third down back is what Houston envisioned when it drafted him.”
Fans noticed that Montgomery was participating, including taking handoffs from C.J. Stroud.
Texans GM Praised New RB1
GettyNick Caserio said that the Houston Texans have thought highly of David Montgomery for years.
The Texans finished the 2025 regular season ranked 22nd in rushing yards gained. Texans general manager Nick Caserio is excited about Montgomery.
He cited all that the physical runner, who turns 29 in June, brings to the table.
“David was a player that was very highly thought of in our building, highly thought of in the Lions’ building as well. We have a lot of respect for the program that Coach [Dan] Campbell and Brad [Holmes] are running in Detroit,” Caserio said on “The Pat McAfee Show” in April. “David’s been a very consistent, a very productive player who’s tough.
“The toughness and his physicality kind of stands out in his play. So, we felt that this was a player, if we had a chance to add him to the team, would be a good fit for some of the reasons that we articulated.”
Alexander argued that the Texans’ backfield is in better shape than last season, when they were without Joe Mixon all season due to a foot injury.
The Texans replaced his replacement, Nick Chubb, as the starter with Marks in Week 10.
Texans RB Room Deep
GettyWoody Marks figures to still be a factor in the Houston Texans’ remade running back room.
Caserio noted after the season that the Texans were three-deep at RB (Marks, Jawhar Jordan, and fullback British Brooks) and that he expected to add at least one more.
The Texans added two.
In addition to Montgomery, the Texans added former Oregon tailback Noah Whittington as an undrafted free agent. They are taking the place of Mixon, whose injury remains a mystery and was released this offseason, and Chubb, who also remains a free agent.
Texans Draw Attention to David Montgomery Amid Strong Feedback