Denico Autry

Denico Autry's Biography

Born on July 15, 1990, Denico Autry has risen through the ranks to become a recognized name in American professional football. Currently, he puts his defensive end skills to use for the Houston Texans in the National Football League (NFL). His journey through football didn’t start in the professional leagues, though. Before his NFL career, Autry showed his athletic prowess in both high school and college football settings, and embodied the tenacious spirit that would later define his professional career.

Autry’s love for football was fostered at an early age in Albemarle, North Carolina. He attended Albemarle High School, where he played football for the Bulldogs. His senior season was remarkable, as he registered 104 solo tackles, 38 assists, and 9.0 sacks. His brute force on the field also led to five forced fumbles and four recoveries. For his impressive performance, Autry was crowned the All-SNAP Defensive Player of the Year and the Rocky River Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His skills also earned him a spot in the NCCA East-West All-Star game.

After high school, Autry started his college playing career at East Mississippi Community College, where he was instrumental in leading the Lions to a 12–0 record, a state championship, and an NJCAA national title. His standout performance earned him a place in the 2011 NJCAA Football All-America First Team.

Denico Autry transferred to Mississippi State in 2012 to continue his college football journey. He played 26 games for the Bulldogs, including having started in 23 of them. During his two-year career at Mississippi State, Autry recorded 73 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, and three forced fumbles.

Autry turned professional in 2014 after he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders on May 20, following the 2014 NFL draft. He made his NFL debut on October 2, 2014, against the Cleveland Browns and successfully recorded two tackles. During his first year with the Raiders, Autry saw action in ten games and totaled thirteen combined tackles.

In 2015, Autry’s role in the Raiders expanded, and he started eight out of the fourteen games he played that season. His output increased to 22 combined tackles, including three sacks, three pass deflections, and one safety. Autry’s contract with the Raiders was extended for a year in 2016 and again in 2017.

In 2018 Autry changed course, signing a three-year, $17.8 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts. During Week 14 of that season, he achieved a career-high three sacks and two forced fumbles. The following week, a pair of sacks in a 24-21 upset win over the Houston Texans earned him the honor of AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Autry’s 2019 season ended with 32 tackles, a respectable 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble across 14 games. However, he missed the last two games because of a concussion suffered in Week 15. Despite this setback, he bounced back strongly, recording two sacks each against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions in subsequent games. He had to sit out after being placed on a reserve/COVID-19 list in November 2020 but was activated by early December.

A high point of his career was recorded during the Wild Card Round of the playoffs when he brought down Josh Allen 1.5 times and forced a fumble in the 27-24 loss. In March 2021, Denico Autry signed a three-year, $21.5 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. In the 2023 season, he achieved a career-high and team-leading 11.5 sacks on top of his 50 tackles and two forced fumbles.

Autry moved on to the Houston Texans in 2024 after signing a two-year contract with them. However, he faced a setback on July 29 when he was suspended for six games because of a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Despite this, Autry’s career continues as a journey of resilience and an unwavering dedication to the game. His tenacity, coupled with his remarkable athleticism, make him a formidable player, and a force to be reckoned with on the field.