As a rookie in 2022, he played both safety spots and turned in one of the most productive years in recent memory. But he’ll tell you he missed too many tackles that same year. That said, the future was clearly bright.

In 2023, under new head coach/defensive play caller DeMeco Ryans, Pitre played a more traditional safety position. It was clear he was thinking through responsibilities and the sort, learning how to play as a safety along the way. After a difficult game against the Browns, Pitre locked in for the stretch run and played his best football of that season, in my estimation.

But things have a funny way of working out.

In the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Texans drafted Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter. Throughout Draft season, there was a ton of talk that Lassiter would play inside at the nickel position, as many thought that would be his best position. But by the second week of OTAs, it was easy to see the Texans needed Lassiter at perimeter corner opposite All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr.

So, okay, the defensive coaches asked themselves, if we put Kamari inside, who plays nickel?

I remember being at practice that day of OTAs and it was the first thing that I saw and I remember thinking two things.

Man, they think Kamari can be really good and that’s dead-on.
The Jalen Rules.

Now, I knew that DeMeco’s defense wouldn’t completely revolve around Jalen’s actions at his nickel spot as they did at Baylor (the Jalen Rules), but I also knew that DeMeco and this Texans defensive coaching staff would be able to unleash the relentless young Houstonian.

Pitre was such a perfect piece in the Texans’ aggressive run defense, fitting in gaps wonderfully like a DL or LB. He was more patient, in all facets, with better eyes and even more discipline in everything he did. He lit up anything in a different colored jersey…often. He intercepted passes at the most key times of the season (Colts Week 8, anyone?). He became one of Coach Ryans’ chess pieces that he could deploy in a number of different ways from that nickel spot.

Then, on what seemed like a simple tackle out in space against the Titans in Week 12, Pitre landed awkwardly and was lost for the season. All of that disruption and fearlessness, just…gone. He was sorely missed. My heart sank when he walked behind me to the locker room.

But the Texans knew how much Pitre meant, and means, to this organization and rewarded him with a contract to stay here for the next three years. The Stafford, TX star may not need his Baylor “Jalen Rules” any longer but he’s following his unique path within a defense that desires his unique skill set, fearless demeanor and PLENTY of edge…or SWARM, as it were.

Some players are just meant to be Texans and Jalen Pitre is one of those extraordinary few.