‘We’re all a part of Houston’
Texans players rally to aid flood victims: ‘We have their back’
Christian Covington was so touched by the ordeal of flood victims that the Texans defensive lineman literally gave one of them the jacket off his back.
That impromptu gesture of compassion from the former Rice standout brought a huge smile to the face of Kim Wilson.
“To see this many people affected by something like this, it’s really devastating,” Covington said. “You see a lot of families here, a lot of children. I’m very happy to be a part of this as a team and contribute to this.”
Another woman became overjoyed when star defensive end J.J. Watt gave her the red baseball cap he wore Wednesday during a surprise visit from roughly 32 Texans players to M.O. Campbell Educational Center to provide comfort to those affected by the massive and deadly flooding that has drenched the Houston area and caused the deaths of eight people.
“It’s a blessing to come out here and contribute and give hope that everything is going to be all right,” running back Alfred Blue said. “The Houston Texans are standing behind them. We have their back.”
As the Texans posed for photographs and hugged their fans, the community event following a day of offseason training for the NFL players had a similar feel to a pep rally despite the sad events of this week in the greater Houston area.
“It’s definitely a devastating time,” cornerback Kareem Jackson said. “They’re supporting us from all over Texas. So, anytime we can come out and put smiles on people’s faces when they’re going through tough times, I’m going to be a part of it.”
The sentiment expressed by the players was one of solidarity and support for families impacted by the flooding.
“We want to show you our love and show you our appreciation,” Texans left tackle Duane Brown told hundreds of visitors at the community center. “Y’all stay strong.”
Several players and their wives attended the event and interacted with the families, including new quarterback Brock Osweiler, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, offensive tackle Derek Newton, safety Andre Hal, wide receiver Cecil Shorts, long snapper Jon Weeks, kicker Nick Novak, quarterback Tom Savage, tight end Ryan Griffin and offensive linemen Xavier Su’a-Filo and Oday Aboushi.
“A lot of us are from out of town, but Houston is our second home,” Watt said. “We feel the love from the city of Houston, not just on game day, but every single day. We appreciate that love so much. This is our chance to thank you and show that love back to you. The city of Houston, whenever one of us goes through a tough time, we all go through a tough time. We want to show you that you’re not alone.”
The Texans handed out gift cards and pizza at the community center, which included the presence of the Red Cross.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation, but the city of Houston is very strong,” Savage said. “People will move forward from here and rebuild. This is the least we can do. These people come out to our games week in and week out and show us constant support. We’re all a part of Houston.”
Former Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson arrived shortly after the current Texans players left the building. A resident of Houston, Johnson donated several items, including diapers, wipes, snacks and bottled water.
“I try to help people out that are in a tough situation,” Johnson said. “I’ve been a part of this community since 2003. I came here to bless the people. I’m in a blessed situation. I just wanted to show my face and show that I care.”