The Indianapolis Colts have reached agreement with former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston on a two-year, $24 million contract, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
The Chiefs released Houston on March 10 after failing to find a trade partner for their four-time Pro Bowl linebacker. He had been due a $15.25 million base salary in 2019.
A source told Schefter that the Colts inquired about trading for former Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford but in the end decided to hold on to draft-pick compensation and instead turned their attention to Houston.
Houston, who turned 30 in January, joined the Chiefs as a third-round draft pick (70th overall) from Georgia in 2011. He quickly showed his pass-rush ability by getting three sacks in a game against the Bears as a rookie. He had 22 sacks in 2014, missing the NFL record by a half-sack.
Houston hasn’t come close to that standard since. His best sack total in the last four seasons is 9.5 in 2017. Houston has 78.5 career sacks, fourth on the Chiefs’ all-time list.
In 2015, Houston signed a six-year contract worth $101 million, making him at the time the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
Houston was more than just a pass-rusher for the Chiefs. He was an excellent all-around player who defended the run well. He was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2014.
ESPN’s Adam Teicher contributed to this report.