The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we’re counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast.

Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let’s take a look at who has won No. 76 since the inaugural season in 2002.

Texans players to wear No. 76

No. 76 currently belongs to offensive tackle Austin Deculus. After being a member of the 2022 draft class, Deculus bounced around in 2024 before joining the Texans ahead of the playoffs. He’s a long shot to start this fall on the right side of the offensive line, but given his relationship with offensive line coach Cole Popovich, he could at least make the active roster come Week 1.

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Deculus wore the jersey before Kenyon Green switched over from No. 59, so he’s not the best player to don the number. In fact, everyone should know who the best player is to wear No. 76 over the last two decades.

OT Austin Deculus (Present)

OT Seantrel Henderson (2018)

OT Duane Brown (2008-2017)

OL Steve McKinney (2002-2007)

Best Player: Duane Brown

While some would consider Laremy Tunsil as the greatest offensive tackle in franchise history, Brown is the best drafted player at the position by a significant margin. After a slow start to his career on the blindside, Brown eventually became a fixture of the trenches, posting three straight Pro Bowl seasons starting in 2012. He also was named a first-team All-Pro in 2012 after not allowing a sack in over 800 pass-blocking snaps.

While his tenure ended on a sour note over contract disputes, he’ll still be a stable force for Houston’s overall turnaround under Gary Kubiak and later Bill O’Brien. Add in the fact that he remains one of the better linemen in franchise history and it’s hard to imagine anyone else belongs in the conversation of G.O.A.T. for No. 76.

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Shout-out to McKinney. He spent five seasons as a starter when the franchise was first founded, but the record hurts his case, espcially since David Carr still remains the most-sacked quarterback in a single season.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: 76 days until the Texans’ 2025 season opener: Who has worn No.76?