Justin Houston
A relentless pass-rushing force off the edge, he terrorized quarterbacks for over a decade with a combination of pure power and explosive speed.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American football player·Birthday: January 21·Millennials
Biography
Justin Houston didn't just get to the quarterback; he arrived with bad intentions. Emerging from the University of Georgia as a first-team All-American, he brought a classic, powerful edge-rushing style to the NFL. Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston quickly established himself as one of the league's most feared defensive players. His 2014 season was a masterpiece of disruption: he racked up 22 sacks, falling just half a sack short of the single-season record and cementing his reputation as a premier game-wrecker. That year earned him a First-Team All-Pro nod, the pinnacle of individual recognition. While injuries later tempered his peak production, his savvy and strength allowed him to evolve into a valued veteran presence for teams like the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens. Houston's career is a testament to sustained excellence at one of football's most demanding positions, marked by moments of sheer dominance that left offensive coordinators scrambling for answers.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Justin was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Justin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Justin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded 22 sacks in the 2014 NFL season, the second-highest single-season total in league history at the time.
- Selected as a First-Team All-Pro in 2014 following his record-chasing sack season.
- Earned four Pro Bowl selections (2012, 2013, 2014, 2019) over his career.
- Tallied over 110 career sacks, placing him among the most prolific sack artists of his era.
Did You Know?
He was drafted in the third round (70th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2011 NFL Draft.
In college at Georgia, he initially played the 'JACK' linebacker position, a hybrid defensive end-linebacker role.
He led the NFL in sacks during the 2014 season.
He recorded a safety in his very first NFL game against the Buffalo Bills.
“If you're not getting to the quarterback, you're not doing your job.”
