Houston Sports - Arian Foster

Arian Foster

Born: August 24, 1986

Sport: Football (4-time Pro Bowl, 2-time All Pro)

Today the Houston Texans officially kicked off their latest season.  Since the first game in the franchise's history (almost exactly 23 years ago, a 19-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys) there have been a few seasons that have created the sort of success that made the fans cheer a little more, and a handful of players that have combined talent and personality to become true fan favorites.  Houston loves cheering for the underdog, so when an undrafted free agent named Arian Foster emerged as the team's first-string running back the city was ready to rally around him.  His quirky style and unapologetic individualism endeared him all the more with anyone who followed the Texans.  By the end of his career he had etched his name in the record books, so this week let's take a look at the story of Arian Foster. 

Houston's Reliant Stadium, home of the Texans

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Arian Foster was the son of Carl Foster and Bernadette Sizemore.  Carl had been a football player at the University of New Mexico, where his wife worked as a secretary, and had made it as far in his sport as having been signed to a pro roster in 1982, but the Denver Broncos cut him before training camp ended so he never saw on-field action.  Arian, one of five children, showed a knack for the sport when Bernadette got him to start playing at the age of seven, but his father did not like the idea of his son playing such a hard-hitting game at such an early age.  His independent streak was noted early when he informed a teacher that he would be an NFL star, and when that teacher said he should consider an alternative option Arian asked why another student who desired to be a doctor wasn't forced to come up with a Plan B.  Carl and Bernadette divorced while Arian was already in high school, and he ended up moving to San Diego with his dad and graduated from Mission Bay Senior High School in 2004.  Initially a two-way player that acted as both running back and linebacker, his final two years were devoted entirely to the offensive side of the ball, a skill he improved by running the nearby dunes every day during the offseason.  The University of Tennessee came calling when Foster led San Diego County in all-purpose yards as a senior, and he committed to play football and compete in track and field.

Although Arian Foster did not play during his first season with the Volunteers as the team enjoyed starting two different rushers with 1,000+ yards, the freshman nevertheless enjoyed his studies as a philosophy major and split his time writing poetry and training for when his opportunity on the field would finally arrive.  That time came during the 2005 season, when he made his debut in week 1, scored his first collegiate touchdown in week 5, and became the team's premier RB when senior Gerald Riggs went down with an injury in week 8 against Alabama.  By the end of his first season of play, Foster had exploded onto the scene with 879 rushing yards and 148 receiving yards.  The 2006 season, however, was challenging due to injury and depth chart competition.  Additionally, Foster was heavily blamed for the team's loss in the Outback Bowl that year, as he fumbled the ball in the red zone during a 10-10 game and the opposing team recovered and returned it 88 yards on their way to a 20-10 final.  Despite only fumbling 5 times in 650 carries during his college career, he did put the ball on the ground in a few other high-visibility moments so the perception that he didn't protect the ball began to form.  Foster's junior season was notable as he surpassed the 1,000 yard mark for the first time, finishing third in the SEC with 1,193 yards on the ground while also receiving 340 yards.  Draft experts suggested he would be graded in the second round if he tried to go pro, but coach Phillip Fulmer convinced him to play his senior season at Tennessee.  It would be a decision he would regret, despite climbing to the second highest rushing total in school history, as the new offensive scheme placed him in a rotation and he only surpassed 100 rushing yards in one game all season.  A decline in production, an injury that kept him out of the NFL Scouting Combine, and reports that he was difficult to coach caused his stock to drop, and the 2009 NFL Draft came and went without Foster's name being called.  At that point, Carl Foster related that he had given up on his dream of playing in the NFL too soon when he got tired of the politics of the game, and he motivated Arian to continue pursuing the goal he'd set in elementary school.  Several teams reached out to sign him as an undrafted free agent and Foster decided, after his girlfriend ran a quick internet search to see what other running backs were on their depth chart, to begin his pro career by signing with the Houston Texans.

The best thing Arian Foster had going for him was how his running style matched the blocking scheme utilized under Coach Gary Kubiak, which involved running sideways in the backfield before making one cut and dashing through an opening in the offensive line.  Injuries and performance issues with the running backs higher on the depth chart elevated Foster from the practice squad all the way to the starting lineup for a team in the midst of a playoff push.  After getting his chance during his rookie campaign, he began to study and train with his brother Abdul to maximize his fitness and running mechanics.  Almost as if he wanted to show that he was a new man, Foster changed his number from 37 to 23 and then immediately showed off the results of his offseason work by breaking loose for 231 yards against the division powerhouse Indianapolis Colts.  It was the second-highest week 1 rushing total in NFL history and set the stage for a season that saw him lead the league in rushing yards (1,616) and rushing TDs (16), on his way to his first Pro Bowl selection and first team All Pro honors.  Fans across the league soon began to recognize his "Namaste bow" in the end zone, a much more calming touchdown celebration during a time when the NFL sought to curb excessive displays.  The following season saw his numbers dip slightly due to missing three games to injury, but this time his Pro Bowl and second team All Pro accolades were combined with team success when the Texans won the AFC South and advanced to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.  A win in the first round was icing on the cake, and before the 2012 season began the Texans rewarded their star RB with a 5-year contract (while also adjusting the team's cafeteria offerings to include black bean burgers to accommodate his 7-month foray into a vegan diet).  Foster responded by once again leading the league in rushing TDs and reaching his third Pro Bowl, while the team ran away with the division title by posting a 12-4 record, once again advancing to the second round of the playoffs.  Foster was the subject of an episode of an ESPN show called Sports Science, which analyzed his mechanics and skills that contributed to his success, while also introducing fans to the poetry that he continued to write after going pro.  After surgery for a ruptured disk cost Foster half of the 2013 season, he rebounded with his final Pro Bowl year in 2014.

The 2015 season would be Arian Foster's last in Houston, as he started the year injured and only played in four games before rupturing his Achilles tendon.  When he was released during the offseason, Foster held the franchise records for rushing yards and rushing TDs, both of which still stand today.  In fact, his totals are more than double any other player in Texans history.  He attempted to play the 2016 season with the Miami Dolphins, but after an injury limited him to just four games he announced his retirement.  In addition to his football career, Foster has found a number of avenues to express his artistic side.  He tried out acting, performing in a movie called Draft Day as well as TV series Hawaii Five-O.  Additionally, he has explored different aspects of society by being involved in documentary filming and multiple podcasts.  Foster also recorded a rap album on a record label run by LeBron James under the stage name Bobby Feeno.  Like many other retired stars, he has appeared on celebrity challenges and game shows to support charities, including the Arian Foster Family Foundation whose stated focus includes battling childhood obesity while improving financial literacy and personal development for kids in the inner city.  Although his football career ended after eight years, Arian Foster remains one of the most productive undrafted free agent running backs in the Super Bowl era, with only Priest Holmes having more yards or touchdowns.  But if you ask any Houston Texans fan, the list of players that can compare to Foster's productivity and charisma is very short, and to this day he remains a beloved figure in our city's sports history.

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