Solomon Byrd Bio
Solomon Byrd (born December 1, 1999) is an American professional football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 255 pounds, he plays on the defensive front and wears jersey number 50. He played college football for the Wyoming Cowboys and the USC Trojans before being selected by the Texans in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Byrd grew up in Southern California and entered the NFL as a mid-to-late round pick, carving out his early professional career through practice-squad movement and reserve contracts in Houston. He continues to develop within the Texans organization as an active member of the team’s defensive line group.
Early Life and Background
Solomon Byrd was born on December 1, 1999, in Palmdale, California, in the United States. He grew up in the Palmdale area and attended Knight High School, where he first emerged as a defensive prospect. His size and frame allowed him to project early as a defensive end at the college level.
During his high school career at Knight, Byrd put together a productive statistical resume, totaling 155 tackles with 20.5 tackles for a loss, 16 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and six forced fumbles. Those numbers helped establish him as a Division I recruit and drew attention from Mountain West Conference programs.
Coming out of Knight High School, Byrd elected to continue his football career at the University of Wyoming. His commitment to the Cowboys marked his first step toward becoming a Power-conference transfer prospect and eventually an NFL draftee.
Path to American Football
Byrd’s developmental path ran through the Mountain West Conference, where he joined the Wyoming Cowboys program. As a true freshman in 2018, he appeared in a limited role and recorded five tackles, adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game while learning the Cowboys’ defensive schemes.
His breakout arrived in 2019, when he became a more disruptive pass rusher. In week three of that season, Byrd produced a clutch late-game sack that helped Wyoming beat Idaho 21–16, and the following week he notched 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection in a win over Tulsa. He closed the 2019 campaign with 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, a pass deflection, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble, earning FWAA Freshman All-American honors.
After opting out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Byrd returned to Wyoming in 2021 and recorded 37 tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Following that season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal, initially committing to Georgia Tech before changing course and choosing the USC Trojans. The move to the Pac-12 set the stage for his transition to a higher level of competition and, ultimately, professional football.
Solomon Byrd Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Byrd’s earliest college production came as a rotational player at Wyoming in 2018, where he posted five tackles while adjusting to college football. His role expanded significantly in 2019, when he became a key edge rusher for the Cowboys and earned Freshman All-American recognition from the Football Writers Association of America.
After a redshirt year in 2020, Byrd returned for a productive 2021 season before entering the transfer portal. The decision positioned him to finish his college career in a Power Five conference and improve his draft stock, which he would do at USC.
USC Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Byrd joined the USC Trojans after initially committing to Georgia Tech, and the change in scenery provided an immediate boost to his visibility as a pass rusher. In just his second game with the Trojans, he recorded two sacks in a win over Stanford, signaling a quick adaptation to USC’s defensive system.
The following week, Byrd made his first career start and delivered a four-tackle performance, including two tackles for a loss and a sack that he also forced and recovered, helping USC defeat Fresno State. He closed the 2022 season with 28 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, a pass deflection, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble, showcasing the all-around disruptive ability that would eventually attract NFL attention.
Houston Texans Era (2024–Present)
Byrd was selected by the Houston Texans in the seventh round, 238th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. He was waived on August 27, 2024, as part of roster cuts, and was quickly re-signed to the Texans’ practice squad, beginning his professional career on the developmental roster.
On January 21, 2025, Byrd signed a reserve/future contract with Houston. He was again waived on August 26, 2025, during final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad, before being elevated to the active roster on December 3, 2025. He was waived on December 29 and re-signed to the practice squad, then signed a reserve/futures contract with Houston on January 20, 2026. Through his NFL career as of 2025, he had recorded two total tackles and one pass deflection.
Driving Style and Strengths
Byrd’s game is built around edge pressure and run-defense versatility. His production at Wyoming and USC showed a knack for tackles for a loss and forced fumbles, with his length and motor at 6-foot-3 allowing him to set a sturdy edge. In Houston, he has continued to develop within the Texans’ defensive system as a depth defensive end.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most significant moments in Byrd’s career are his 2019 Freshman All-American selection at Wyoming, his two-sack performance against Stanford in his second game at USC, and his selection by the Houston Texans in the 2024 NFL draft. His first career start at USC against Fresno State, in which he forced and recovered his own sack-fumble, is also a defining early milestone.
Solomon Byrd Career Wins
Solomon Byrd’s career achievements have primarily been individual statistical milestones rather than championship titles. Across his college stops at Wyoming and USC, he earned Freshman All-American honors and posted multiple multi-sack games that highlighted his development as an edge rusher. At the professional level, his work has centered on building a role with the Houston Texans through practice-squad movement and reserve contracts.
Wyoming and USC Highlights
At Wyoming, Byrd’s 2019 season stood out, finishing with 6.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble while earning Freshman All-American recognition. His most recent college season came in 2022 at USC, where he tallied four sacks, 7.5 tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble, while also notching his first career start against Fresno State.
Other Wins and Performances
Among Byrd’s most memorable single-game performances were a clutch late-game sack that helped Wyoming beat Idaho in 2019, a 2.5-sack game against Tulsa the following week, and a two-sack effort against Stanford in his second game at USC. Each performance underlined his pass-rushing upside and his ability to produce in high-leverage situations.
Solomon Byrd Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Solomon Byrd comes from a family with deep ties to the NFL. His uncle, Manfred Moore, played in the NFL from 1974 to 1976 and was a member of the Oakland Raiders team that won Super Bowl XI. Another uncle, Malcolm Moore, appeared in three games for the Los Angeles Rams during the 1987 NFL season, giving Byrd a clear professional football lineage on both sides of his family.
Personal Life
Byrd was born and raised in Palmdale, California, where he attended Knight High School before launching his college career. Public information about his personal relationships is limited, and he is known primarily through his football career with the Houston Texans.
2025 Season Performance
Byrd’s 2025 NFL season with the Houston Texans began on the practice squad, as he was waived during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the developmental roster. He continued to develop behind the Texans’ main defensive end group, working to translate his college production into consistent NFL opportunities.
On December 3, 2025, Byrd was signed to the active roster, giving him a window of regular-season game action with the Texans. Through the 2025 season, his statistical line included two total tackles and one pass deflection, reflecting a limited but active role in Houston’s defensive rotation.
Following the 2025 campaign, Byrd was waived on December 29 and re-signed to the practice squad, before signing a reserve/futures contract with Houston on January 20, 2026. The Texans’ continued investment in his development suggests he remains part of the team’s long-term plans along the defensive line as he works toward a more prominent role in future seasons.