E. J. Speed Bio
Elbert Martin “E. J.” Speed is an American professional football linebacker who plays in the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and listed at 227 lb (103 kg), he is currently a member of the Houston Texans after spending his first six professional seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Speed earned his place in the league as a fifth-round draft pick in 2019 and has built a reputation for steady defensive play and standout work on special teams.
Early Life and Background
Speed was born on June 1, 1995, in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in the same city that shaped his early love for football. He attended North Crowley High School, where he played both quarterback and wide receiver for the Panthers. As a senior, he was named first-team All-District after passing for 3,000 yards, rushing for 350 yards, and catching 30 passes for 400 yards with two touchdowns, showcasing the versatility that would later define his path to the NFL.
Coming out of high school, Speed was ranked as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com and was listed among the top 30 prospects in the state of Texas by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. He received scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Colorado, and Colorado State, but he ultimately chose to stay close to home and play at NCAA Division II Tarleton State University. The decision was driven in part by family, as Speed wanted to be near his stepbrother, who had been diagnosed with cancer.
Path to American Football
Speed joined the Tarleton State Texans in 2013 and remained with the program for five seasons, a tenure that included a redshirt year due to injury and a later position change that set the course for his pro career. Recruited as a quarterback, he was first moved to wide receiver before settling at linebacker following his redshirt season. A second injury forced another redshirt year, but the move to defense proved to be the foundation for everything that followed.
Once healthy, Speed wasted little time establishing himself. In his first full season of action, he finished third on the team with 68 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, and a Division II-high five forced fumbles, earning second-team All-Lone Star Conference (LSC) honors. After a junior campaign limited to five games, he capped his collegiate career with a senior season of 106 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks, repeating as second-team All-LSC in 2018. He finished at Tarleton State with 231 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and eight forced fumbles.
E. J. Speed Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Speed was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round, 164th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft and signed his rookie contract on May 3, 2019. He made his NFL debut on September 15, 2019, in a 19–17 win over the Tennessee Titans and finished his rookie year with seven total tackles across 12 games, getting his feet under him on both defense and special teams.
The 2020 season offered his first signature moment. On November 12, 2020, against the Titans on Thursday Night Football, Speed blocked a punt by Trevor Daniel that teammate T. J. Carrie returned for a touchdown. The play earned Speed AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for Week 10, signaling the kind of game-changing impact he would deliver throughout his career.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2019–2024)
Speed continued to develop as a core special teams contributor for Indianapolis, and in Week 10 of the 2021 season he returned a blocked punt 12 yards for a touchdown in a 23–17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, again earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He struck once more that season in Week 15, recovering a blocked punt in the end zone during a 27–17 win over the New England Patriots, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most dangerous hands on punt units.
On March 15, 2023, the Colts rewarded his growth with a two-year, $8 million contract extension. That same season, Speed played in 16 games with 11 starts, finishing second on the team with 102 tackles to go along with one sack, four passes defensed, and three forced fumbles. Over six seasons in Indianapolis, he established himself as a reliable linebacker and one of the team’s most reliable special teams players.
Houston Texans Era (2025–Present)
On March 29, 2025, Speed signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Houston Texans, beginning a new chapter in his career. He played in 16 games with nine starts in his first season in Houston, recording 62 tackles and one pass deflection while continuing to contribute in multiple phases of the game. The Texans later locked him in further when, on March 10, 2026, he signed a two-year, $13 million contract extension, signaling a long-term role in the defensive plan.
Driving Style and Strengths
Speed’s game is built on length, instincts, and special teams savvy. His 6-4 frame helps him play through blocks at the second level, while his background as a high school quarterback and wide receiver sharpens his ability to read offenses and pursue the football. His knack for blocking and recovering punts has turned him into a weekly threat on punt coverage, complementing his work as a steady tackler in the box.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Speed’s most memorable moments are his three NFL touchdowns, all coming on special teams via blocked punts, and his two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards in 2020 and 2021. He has also posted 416 total tackles, 2 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 13 pass deflections, and 2 touchdowns across his career, with three-down responsibility now part of his role in Houston.
E. J. Speed Career Wins
Speed has built a career highlighted by game-changing special teams plays and consistent defensive production rather than traditional win totals. His three career touchdowns, all on blocked or recovered punts, have directly produced or sealed victories for his teams, including the 2020 win over Tennessee, the 2021 victory over Jacksonville, and the 2021 win over New England.
NFL Highlights
Speed’s first NFL touchdown came on the blocked punt against Tennessee in 2020, a play that set the tone for his special teams career. He added a 12-yard return against Jacksonville in 2021 and a recovery in the end zone against New England later that season. With Houston, he has transitioned into a starting-caliber role, logging nine starts and 62 tackles in 2025.
Other Wins & Performances
At the collegiate level, Speed was a two-time second-team All-LSC selection in 2016 and 2018, and he posted a Division II-high five forced fumbles in a single season. He finished his Tarleton State career with 231 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and eight forced fumbles, laying the groundwork for his NFL opportunity.
E. J. Speed Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Speed grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and has spoken about the role family played in his decision to attend Tarleton State. His decision to play close to home was tied directly to family circumstances, particularly his stepbrother’s cancer diagnosis, which kept him grounded during his college years.
Personal Life
Speed maintains an active presence on social media, where he is known by the handles tied to his playing profile. Details about his marital status and family life beyond his upbringing in Fort Worth are not publicly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
In his first season with the Houston Texans, Speed appeared in 16 games and made nine starts, serving as a steady presence on defense and on special teams. He finished the year with 62 tackles and one pass deflection, showing the kind of reliable tackling that has defined his NFL career while continuing to anchor punt coverage units.
His veteran presence helped stabilize the Texans’ linebacker rotation, and his track record of producing on special teams gave Houston a proven third-phase weapon. On March 10, 2026, the organization rewarded that production with a two-year, $13 million contract extension, locking Speed in as a key piece of the team’s long-term plan.
Looking ahead, Speed is expected to remain a core contributor on defense and special teams for the Texans. With his contract now running through 2027 and his role in Houston firmly established, he enters the next phase of his career as one of the more experienced linebackers on the roster and a continuing threat to deliver game-changing plays in the kicking game.
