The Texans have re-signed veteran running back Dare Ogunbowale on a one-year, $1.2MM deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
2025 will be Ogunbowale’s ninth season in the NFL and fourth in Houston. He began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Texans in 2017, but did not make the 53-man roster as a rookie. He spent the rest of the season bouncing between practice squad and made his regular-season debut with the Buccaneers in 2018.
Ogunbowale earned a full-time roster spot and a team captaincy in Tampa Bay in 2019. He carved out a role as a third-down back with 35 receptions for 286 yards and also served as a core special teams contributor. He played 361 snaps on offense and 381 on special teams, which both remain career-highs, but was not retained for the 2020 season.
The Wisconsin product was signed by the Jaguars in 2020 and amassed 282 yards on 75 carries across the next two years. He maintained his role on special teams, but did not feature in the passing game with just 23 receptions in Jacksonville.
Ogunbowale then landed in Houston, where he has spent the last three years. He continued to feature on special teams with rotational roles on offense in 2022 and 2024. Last year, he appeared in all 17 games with 112 yards on 30 carries and 198 yards on 19 receptions while playing 56% of the Texans’ special teams snaps.
In 2025, Ogunbowale will likely take up a similar role behind Joe Mixon, though a resurgence from fourth-year back Dameon Pierce could cut into his workload.
Known kicker.