When the Texans signed inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney to a $51 million contract this year, he wanted to justify the investment and the faith that coach Bill O'Brien and general manager Brian Gaine had placed in him.
The contract included $21 million guaranteed.
McKinney has lived up to the deal, leading the Texans with 96 tackles and operating as their defensive signal caller. He was named to his first Pro Bowl on Tuesday night
"It's a great honor, OB, Brian Gaine, all those guys trusted me to pay me that type of money," McKinney said. "I'm trying to show them that it was a good reason they did it for.