Houston Texans starting safety Jalen Pitre walked back into Stafford High School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, to talk with the players who now wear the Spartans jersey he once did.

Pitre, a Stafford native who played at the school before heading to Baylor University, spent time with current football players, posed for photos and shared what the Stafford Municipal School District called "words of encouragement." The district posted images from the visit showing Pitre surrounded by Spartans players on the school grounds.

"Everything you do has got to make sense," Pitre told the group, according to the district's post.

Pitre also talked with players about why he signed with the Texans. He agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract extension with Houston in April 2025, according to Heavy.com. The full details of what he shared with the Spartans about that choice were not available.

The visit gave current players a close look at what a pro career built from their own hallways can become. Pitre played at Stafford before spending four seasons at Baylor from 2017 to 2021. The Texans selected him with the 37th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

He now plays both safety and nickelback for the Texans. In the 2025 season, he recorded a career-high four interceptions, according to Fox News Digital.

Pitre also missed three games with a concussion during the 2025 season. After returning, he wore a Guardian Cap in every remaining game and later became the first NFL signature athlete for Guardian Sports, the company behind the padded helmet shell, Yahoo Sports reported. That deal made him a visible advocate for player safety at every level.

The timing lined up well for the Spartans. Stafford opened its 2026 season with a 43-42 road win over Hitchcock on Friday, Aug. 28, according to MaxPreps. One point decided it.

The team hosts Waltrip on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.