Texans rookie safety Pitre on high school jersey retirement: 'I am Stafford, and I love this city'

Houston Texans rookie safety Jalen Pitre had his jersey number retired on Friday, per reports from Houston-based media outlets.

Stafford High School bestowed the honor upon Pitre, who wore No. 24, during a game at Stafford Spartans Stadium, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported. 

“I am Stafford, and I love this city,” he said, according to the station. “I am thankful for all they've done for me, and I want to continue to build off that.”

KTRK reported that the 23-year-old Pitre enjoyed a multi-decorated prep career at Stafford in which he earned all-district and all-American honors to go along with a defensive player of the year accolade.

Following his graduation from Stafford in 2017, he attended Baylor University (BU) where he logged more than 30 games for the Bears and was nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Pitre’s final year in Waco saw him earn the Big XII Defensive Player of the Year Award, an All-American selection and a second consecutive spot on the All-Big XII first team.

According to Houston NBC affiliate KPRC, Pitre hopes to set a good example for current and future Stafford student-athletes.

“There’s a lot of great talent that comes from Stafford year in and year out,” he said, the station reported. “I’m just trying to be a guy they can look up to.”

It didn’t take long for Pitre to make an impact for the Texans after they used the 37th overall pick in last April’s National Football League (NFL) Draft on him.

Houston Daily reported last month that he enjoyed a career game against the Chicago Bears in the third week of the current campaign, tallying his first two interceptions and sack as a pro. 

He and fellow rookie Derek Stingley Jr. are expected to be cornerstones of the Texans secondary.