Tight end Darren Fells has signed a two-year, $7 million contract extension with the Houston Texans. Fells spent the 2019 season with the Texans.
Sources: The #Texans have agreed to terms on a 2-year contract extension for TE Darren Fells worth $7M. The deal, which pays the soon-to-be 34-year old $4M in 2020, comes after Fells set a career-high with 7 TDs. Now, he sticks in Houston.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2020
Darren Fells, Houston Texans Agree to New Deal
Fells’ professional career began on the basketball court as opposed to the gridiron. Between 2008 and 2012, Fells played basketball professionally in Argentina, Belgium, Finland, France, and Mexico as a power forward.
Despite not playing football in college at UC Irvine, Fells used his large frame to transition from the hard court to the football field. Fells followed the footsteps of his older brother Daniel Fells as a tight end.
Fells signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and participated in training camp. However he was release prior to the opening game. He spent the rest of the season as a member of the practice squad for the Arizona Cardinals.
Fells saw minimal time on the field in 2014, posting only five receptions in ten games. However he did record his first career touchdown reception in a playoff loss to Carolina.
Fells saw more passes his way the next couple of years with the Cardinals. Although rarely labeled a starter, his ability to find the open space in the end zone was becoming noticed throughout the league.
In March 2017, Fells left the Arizona desert for a backup role in Detroit with the Lions. Fells eventually garnered playing time over Eric Ebron and tallied 17 catches with three touchdowns.
This production impressed the Cleveland Browns, as they signed him to a three-year contract in March 2018. However, Fells did not find the success he had hoped for in Cleveland. After a disappointing season, he was released a year later by the Browns.
Shortly after his release, he landed on his feet in Houston for the 2019 season. As a member of the Texans, Fells set the single-season record for most regular season touchdown receptions (seven) by a tight end in Texans’ history. Fells was a unique weapon in the red zone for the Texans. He finished with career highs in receptions (34), yards (341) and yet another touchdown in the post-season.
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