Former Illinois football star traded to the Houston Texans

In what comes as a surprising move on Tuesday afternoon, a former Illinois football player is on the move in the NFL.

Bret Bielema would take over the Illini program back in December 2020. This was the beginning of something special in Champaign. In that first season at the helm, Bielema would lead Illinois to a 5-7 record. I believe that record could have been even better as well.

There were plenty of players who returned to that 2021 team despite having a new coaching regime in the building. One player who didn’t return was Kendrick Green. The star offensive lineman entered the 2021 NFL Draft as a junior, and this would be a great decision for him and his future.

In the third round, with pick No. 87 overall, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Green. He would play guard for the Illini but the Steelers had him switch over to center.

Green would start the first 15 games for the Steelers as a rookie before going down with an injury. Last season, Pittsburgh would move Green back to guard and he didn’t get to see the field.

With roster cuts being made, the Steelers decided to move on from Green. No, he wasn’t a cut casualty but he was actually traded. The Houston Texans came calling and sent a sixth-round pick in 2025 to the Steelers for Green. He now has a new home.

The Houston Texans is a fresh start for former Illinois football standout Kendrick Green

From the sound of things, a trade out of Pittsburgh might be exactly what Green needed. He went from starting the first 15 games in 2021 to then not getting a chance to play in 2022. That is a massive drop, and I am sure a lot had to do with the injury.

Green now gets a chance to prove himself once again. The Texans just lost projected starting guard, Kenyon Green, to a season-ending injury. That hurts depth on their offensive line. Landing Green will give them some stability.

Houston also has a nice up-and-coming roster. Green is not even 25 years old yet, and he joins a young team. CJ Stroud is leading the way at quarterback. Dameon Pierce came off a huge rookie season in 2022. I also like the young core on defense, led by one of the top picks in the NFL Draft, Will Anderson Jr.

Sometimes things just don’t work out. That seems to be the case with Green. This guy has a ton of talent, and this is a chance for a fresh start.