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Arian Foster‘s introduction to the NFL came as one of those fantasy football dream scenarios in which an unknown talent, freshly picked up off the waiver wire over halfway through the season, pays off for your squad beautifully. In 2009, the undrafted free agent ended his rookie season with the hottest hand on the Texans after beating out Chris Brown and the much-hyped and much-injured Steve Slaton for the starting RB job. In 2010, on opening day, he once again stepped in for the injured Slaton, then never looked back. Now, it’s all over. The Texans have released Arian Foster after a failed physical, thus avoiding a $6.5 million base salary and a cap hit of almost $9 million that Foster would cost them in 2016.
This move to get rid of the Texans’ best back in franchise history seemed inevitable after he started the 2015 season with a groin injury (which he came back from with inhuman healing powers), then tore his achilles after only playing four games. In 2013, Foster only played in eight games, and in 2014, he only played in 13. Despite constant injuries, he was still one of the most effective backs in football year after year.
He no-doubt understands the move his former team had to make, and his Instagram post from today shows why he’s been a fan-favorite for seven seasons:
“I’ve got 7 years of beautiful memories with teammates, staff and coaches I’ll never forget. thank you all for being a part of this journey. people that I call friends and brothers have all contributed to the success of what we did on the field, and also to the person that I am off. with everything in me, I love and respect the men and women you are. you are a part of me for good. and to the city of houston, I genuinely appreciate every ounce of love I’ve ever gotten.
Onward we march, it’s been real. nothing but love on this end.”
Foster has Texans records for the most career rushing yards, most career rushing touchdowns, most rushing yards in a single season (1,616) and the most rushing touchdowns in a single season (16). In addition to those franchise records, he’s the first player in NFL history to have 100+ rushing yards in his first three postseason games.
Will he be able to play elsewhere in 2016? Where could he end up?
