Will Anderson explains why he keeps a never-satisfied mentality despite individual accolades

Will Anderson Jr. became the third player in Houston Texans history to earn AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors last season.

He’s expected to satisfy a greater role for his squad during his second season in the NFL. Looked at as a leader on his team now, to him, Anderson Jr.’s individual awards don’t mean a thing if his team isn’t succeeding.

“It’s just never being satisfied,” Anderson Jr. said on the sideline at the Hall of Fame game in Canton, OH. “Those accolades are great, but the ultimate goal is always the Super Bowl. But right now, we’re just focused on stacking. It’s not about me, it’s about the team. How are we coming to work every day? What are we doing to get better? How are we putting together our foundation?”

Anderson Jr. showed off this work ethic on the field while helping the Texans reach the playoffs with a 10-7 record in the regular season last year. Anderson Jr. posted 45 tackles, seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss. He also blocked one kick.

As the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft, Anderson Jr. set a franchise rookie record with seven sacks during the 2023-24 season. He went on to join elite company with his head coach, former LB DeMeco Ryans (2006), and LB Brian Cushing (2009) as players in franchise history to win the AP’s DROY award.

Alongside star quarterback CJ Stroud, the former Alabama and Ohio State stars took the NFL by storm, seemingly turning Houston from a bottom-level NFL team to a playoff condender in one season. Whether that success bleeds into the upcoming season remains to be seen.

Entering year two, he’s taking on an even greater role in the locker room. He’s not the rookie anymore, he said.

“Right now my biggest thing is just being a great leader,” Anderson Jr. continued. “All the other goals will fall into place that I have for myself, but right now I just want to be a great leader, help my teammates, help the young rookies because I was in that position last year, and just making sure we’re coming together as one so that when we step out on the field Sunday, we’re all together and we’re all having fun.”

With no shortage of quarterbacks for Anderson Jr. to come after, the Texans’ 2024-25 regular season will begin against the Indianapolis Colts in Lucas Oil Stadium during Week 1 on Sept. 8.