Clowney has a background in 4-3 and 3-4 defensive schemes. He feels like he’s scheme-flexible and is a fit in any type of alignment as a disruptive force on the edge.

“I done played in every scheme, ain’t no scheme I can’t play in, 3-4 to 4-3 to whatever damn scheme that you had,” Clowney said. “I think I done proved that I can play in them all and not just play in them, but also dominate in them schemes and do my job at a high level. I just came off a great season, looking forward to doing it again and, you know, continue to prove to people and show the balance.

“For sure, man. They know I’m available. I walk in every year and play well on every scheme and every team I’ve been on. I want to continue to do that going into year 13. Showing people wrong and proving that I can still play at a high level. It don’t matter where I end up, where I play at, just know I’m coming to show you again and prove people wrong again.”

Clowney, who overcame microfracture knee surgery after being drafted out of South Carolina in 2014, played five seasons for the Texans. After a tough start to his career, he emerged as an impact player during his final three seasons in Houston.

As an unsigned franchise player who was unable to reach an agreement with the Texans on a long-term deal due to differing viewpoints about his financial value, Clowney saw his time in Houston end when former coach Bill O’Brien traded him to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Texans received a third-round draft pick and defensive players Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin in exchange for the former top overall pick.

After being named to three consecutive Pro Bowls and a combined 18 1/2 sacks in his final two seasons in Houston, Clowney was no longer a Texan.

Reflecting back on his time in Houston, Clowney has positive memories of a time where he gained knowlege from older players and developed as a pro.

“Oh, man, it was an experience,” said Clowney, former blue-chip recruit for the Gamecocks who was an All-American and All-Southeastern Conference selection. “I was young, didn’t know anything. I got hurt my first game. If I knew what I knew today, I probably wouldn’t have played no more after that and tried to heal up. So, I listened to the noise in the locker room and the people around me because it ended up leading to a longer rehab or injury that lingered for a long time.

‘Other than that, the people I met, the time I spent there was special because it was a great experience for me. I was young, and those guys took me up under their wing and showed me a lot and showed me a lot of ball and taught me the game and taught me how to develop a routine and just take care of myself. When I left there to branch off and go on to other places, I kind of kept it in the back of my head, a routine and how to take care of myself. Just being a pro, that’s how I ended up having a long career, playing 12 years in the National Football League."

The trade was a business decision for the Texans. Unable to agree on his value, Clowney and his representatives felt it was time for a fresh start, but it was the Texans’ call ultimately to trade him after durability issues nearly derailed his career before he settled into a strong methodology and best practices.

“I thank God every day because my career started off rocky,” Clowney said. “”The injuries piled up quick my rookie year, and I’m sure everybody counted me out. Looking back on it, I laugh now because I have defeated the odds and played 12 years.

“So, I don’t really care what nobody thinks, and I continue to play at a high level. I know what I can do on the field. So to me, it’s just continuing to prove people wrong and prove my family right that I had a lot left. I have fun, enjoyed this game a lot. It’s fun, extremely fun to me, and I don’t take it for granted.”

Clowney loved playing for the Ravens, a franchise with a strong tradition for defense highlighted by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed. Clowney recorded 9 1/2 sacks in 17 games, 15 starts, 43 tackles, and two forced fumbles. He had a sack of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the AFC championship game.

Fairchild is a longtime trainer for professional athletes, including J.J. Watt, D.J. Reader, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Grant Delpit, George Springer, Lance Berkman, Anthony Rendon, Monica Abbott, Tariq Woolen, Tremon Smith, Cam Lewis, David Johnson and Johnathan Joseph.

Fairchild has trained Clowney for six years.

“He’s a pro,” Fairchild said. “We know what it takes now to get him where he needs to be and I think the last handful of years have kind of shown that he understands what it takes to get his body in the right place. The Dallas Cowboys, again, a very productive season with them especially that last game and I know I’m watching that, taking a lot of pride in seeing here at the end of the season he’s playing his best football. How showing that how well he holds up when age is a question, he just turned 33 this spring and that becomes a question sometimes. The two obvious factors to consider are a drop in performance, which he kind of made that clear that’s not a problem this year and then health. I think the the numbers are all there and they speak for themselves.

“He’s been very healthy over the last five years. He wants to go to training camp. That does seem to be a bit of a misconception outwardly that he doesn’t have interest in training camp just because of the way his contractual offseasons have unfolded the last few years but he is bent on participating fully in an offseason program and in a full training camp. I think that is what you know teams would really probably benefit from knowing is that you’re getting a guy who wants to fully participate yeah he hasn’t been able to do that but also the ability to produce at the level that he has produced by just walking in the door in the fourth week of the regular season last year.”

Performance analysis and research displays how Clowney stacks up well against elite pass rushers.

A comparison of his snaps to sacks ratio, through the lens of sacks, pressures and hurries, is illuminating.

Clowney had four sacks per 100 pass rush snaps last season. Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was the only NFL player to have a better percentage with 4.9 sacks per 100 pass rush snaps.

Clowney had 17.7 pressures per 100 pass rush snaps, ranking second, and Green Bay Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons was first with 18.0 pressures per 100 pass rush snaps.

Clowney ranked first in hurries with 17.8 per 100 pass rush snaps. He was second to Garrett in tackles for losses per 100 pass rush snaps.

“In JD’s case, if we just isolate on sacks, which I would argue is his least shiny attribute, if we just look at production per play, he played 373 snaps this year and had 8 1/2 sacks,” Fairchild said. “That breaks down to a sack about every 43 plays. If we just look across the league you could pull up names of the guys who are the highest paid guys in the $35, $40 and $45 million dollar range at the position, there is only one player in football that has a higher production per play in this past season and in the last three seasons and it’s Clowney and Myles Garrett.

“Obviously, it’s a larger sample but a lot of that is dictated based on the defensive scheme and kind of how much rotation they have at the position versus the player’s ability to be on the field. There’s tremendous value for a general manager and a team that’s looking for a defensive piece that can kind of come in and fill the the role of an elite pass rusher and run-stopper. He’s the best. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with so many guys over the course of time, he stands out. He’s one who I can always rely on. There’s been some challenging times, and I’ve always appreciated his work ethic and attitude.”

No one in modern football could forget Clowney. Not after his epic, helmet-launching tackle against the Michigan Wolverines. The tackle made him a household name, famous all over the world.

Clowney was completely unblocked and was shot out of a cannon into the Wolverines’ backfield, delivering a devastating hit with full force and acceleration that rocked running back Vincent Smith and separated him from the football and his helmet. Clowney recovered the fumble, leading to a touchdown and an Outback Bowl victory. He won the ESPY award in 2013 for best play.

It was the signature play of his collegiate career.

“Oh, my God, that was about 15 years ago, Clowney said. ”Oh, my God. What I remember was the fourth down, they just got us and gave them the first down. We had a lot of time left. I was just thinking in my head, like I always do in every game I ever play: ‘Hey, make a play. You make plays, so just go ahead and make a big play.’ Made the play.

“I wasn’t thinking about the helmet. I was just thinking about the football. The whole thing. to me was just get the ball and get your team in position to win a game. It’s funny, man. People talk about it to this day, and I just say the same thing, Man, I was just playing football. It just came together at the perfect time.”

Clowney has made Houston his home ever since being drafted by the Texans.

He loves being a dad. He has three children. His oldest son, a 10-year-od was at the training session, working out alongside him.

“Oh, man, it’s the greatest experience ever for me,” Clowney said. “I think the kids have changed my life, put me in a better perspective of becoming a man and being a leader, even more of a leader because I know my kids are watching, and just really showing them how to work, how to grow and become a grown man, the drive you need to have in life about being successful, and it’s not going to be given to you. I just take pride in embedding that into my kids and teaching them that."

Clowney was raised in Rock Hill, South Carolina by his mother, Josenna, and his grandparents. His father, David Morgan, was released from prison in 2006 after serving nearly 12 years for robbing a check cashing business in 1995. Not having his father in his life for his childhood has given Clowney perspective on his own fatherhood.

“I bring my son here to the gym,” Clowney said. “I keep him with me because it’s more important for me to develop him than me at this point because I’m trying to break a generational curse. If anybody knew my background, I ain’t had no dad coming up. My dad was incarcerated and I didn’t meet him until middle school.

“For me to have a son, I don’t want that for him. I’m not saying my dad chose that, but things happen, and I was trying to break the curse and just trying to be there for my kids and my son and put those characteristics in him.”

Clowney celebrated his 33rd birthday in February.

And he feels confident that he has a lot left to give to the game of football.

Pondering his legacy, Clowney knows exactly how he wants to be remembered when he’s done playing: for talent, perseverance and dedication to the game. He’s gained wisdom and perspective over the years after arriving in the NFL unsure of what it would take to succeed. Now, he’s making up for that slow start to his NFL career.

“Just remember that he never quit,” Clowney said when asked how he would like to be though of when he hangs up his cleats one day. “He played extremely hard. People always count me out, but I always showed up and gave them everything I got no matter what team I was on.

“Walked into your locker room with my head held high and gave you my best effort and not just played well, but you depended on me on your defense on every team I ever played on. You called on me to make plays, and I’m going to remember that as a playmaker.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL insider for KPRC 2 and Sports Talk 790. He also has a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AaronWilsonSport

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