Will Anderson Jr. Lands Sports Illustrated's 2026 NFL Preview Cover

Q: Will the legendary Sports Illustrated cover curse doom the Texans, or is their historically dominant defense truly immune to bad luck?

Probably not. The Sports Illustrated “cover curse” is folklore, not a reliable predictor, and the stronger case is that Houston’s fate will be decided by football factors the magazine itself highlights. The evidence around the curse has always been shaky. A common explanation is regression to the mean: teams or players make the cover after an exceptional season, so any step back can look like a jinx when it is often just normal variance, injuries or bad luck. There are also clear counterexamples, including Emmitt Smith winning a Super Bowl after a cover appearance and the 2016 Cubs and 2017 Astros matching SI’s lofty spotlight. As for the Texans, the defense appears sturdy enough to withstand superstition. Houston allowed just 17.4 points per game in 2025, among the NFL’s best, and returned nearly every major piece from a unit widely described as elite at all three levels. Will Anderson Jr. is coming off a breakout All-Pro season, Derek Stingley Jr. remains a top corner, and DeMeco Ryans’ scheme has given the group a clear identity and consistency. The bigger threat is not a magazine cover but whether the offense can match the defense. Multiple reports point to C.J. Stroud’s uneven 2025, a reworked offensive line and the need for a steadier run game even after adding David Montgomery. If Stroud rebounds and the offense stays on schedule, the Texans have a real Super Bowl case. If it doesn’t, no “curse” is needed to explain a disappointment.

2 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 19

Sports Illustrated unveiled its 2026 NFL preview magazine with a cover featuring Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. photographed above the Houston skyline.
A second cover spotlights five Houston defenders, tying the issue to Conor Orr’s cover story on a Texans unit he describes as historically dominant while chasing the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
The feature centers on how Houston assembled a disruptive defense that pressures quarterbacks and shuts down the run, making the Texans’ defense—not just Anderson—the magazine’s broader focus.