The Houston Texans honored former defensive end Earl Cochran with a moment of silence before their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans honored former defensive end Earl Cochran with a moment of silence before their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, paying tribute to the late player who passed away at 44.
After the win, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke emotionally about Cochran, who was not only a former teammate but also a close friend. The two attended high school together in Alabama before reuniting on the Texans.
“What a game. First, I have to give glory to God. It’s not about us and praising us for what we do. It’s all glory to God, and I’m just thankful for finding a way to win this game, especially coming in with a heavy heart,” Ryans said. “I lost my best friend, Earl Cochran. I know he’s smiling down on us right now. He would be very proud.”
Ryans shared memories of Cochran and reflected on the impact he had on those around him.
“First off, Earl is just a stand-up guy. Close friend, loving, caring, big heart, give the shirt off his back to anybody. He treated people the right way. Loved people. Always had a big smile, big heart. Very wise. So, I’m just thankful to have him as a friend,” Ryans said.
Cochran played college football at Alabama State University before joining the NFL, where he spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. He then played for the Texans from 2006 to 2009.
After his playing career, Cochran worked as a defensive line coach at Prairie View A&M.
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