Deuce Vaughn Gets Another NFL Chance With Houston Texans After UFL Stint
For Deuce Vaughn, the NFL dream is still alive.
The former Kansas State star running back has earned another opportunity to show NFL teams what he can do after the Houston Texans signed him on Aug. 24. Vaughn joins Houston after spending part of the 2026 season with the UFL’s Orlando Storm.
And I, for one, am very happy to see it.
Vaughn’s journey is a reminder that getting released from an NFL roster does not necessarily mean a player’s football career is over. Sometimes, all a player needs is another opportunity, another team willing to take a closer look and a chance to put his abilities back on display.
For Vaughn, that opportunity has arrived in Houston.
Deuce Vaughn’s NFL Journey Comes Full Circle
The Dallas Cowboys selected Vaughn in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, making him the 212th overall pick.
His selection was one of the more memorable stories of that draft. Vaughn’s father, Chris Vaughn, was part of the Cowboys’ scouting department and was involved in the process of Dallas selecting his son.
But Deuce Vaughn’s draft selection was never simply about the family connection.
At Kansas State, Vaughn established himself as one of the most productive running backs in college football. In three seasons with the Wildcats, he rushed for 3,604 yards and 34 touchdowns while adding more than 1,200 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. He earned consensus All-American honors in 2022.
Those numbers don’t happen by accident.
Vaughn was an explosive, elusive and incredibly productive player who consistently found ways to make defenders miss.
His NFL career, however, never really had the chance to develop.
Vaughn played 14 games over two seasons with the Cowboys, finishing with 40 carries for 110 rushing yards and 10 receptions for 58 yards. Dallas released him in August 2025, and he subsequently spent time with the Denver Broncos before being released in May 2026.
That’s where the UFL entered the picture.
The UFL Gave Deuce Vaughn Another Door Into the NFL
Vaughn joined the Orlando Storm in May, giving him another opportunity to continue his professional football career.
He did not actually appear in a game for Orlando, but simply being part of the UFL ecosystem helped keep his name in the professional football pipeline. Vaughn subsequently worked out for Houston and earned himself another NFL contract.
That is something I really admire about the United Football League.
The UFL is not merely providing football for fans during the spring and summer. It is creating legitimate opportunities for players who might otherwise have nowhere else to go.
Players get released from NFL teams every year. Some are undrafted. Others spend time on practice squads before getting cut. Some suffer injuries at the wrong time. Others simply need another opportunity to show that they can still play.
The UFL gives many of those players another stage.
And Deuce Vaughn is another example of why that matters.
Don’t Count Deuce Vaughn Out Because of His Size
There is an obvious question surrounding Vaughn: Can a 5-foot-5 or 5-foot-6 running back really succeed in the NFL?
I believe he can.
Vaughn’s size is going to be discussed constantly. It was discussed before the 2023 NFL Draft, and it will continue to be discussed every time he gets another opportunity.
But football isn’t played on a measuring tape.
Vaughn has already demonstrated at Kansas State that he can be productive against high-level competition. His ability to change direction, accelerate through openings, catch the football and make defenders miss is what made him special in college.
The NFL is obviously a different level. Vaughn still has to prove he can consistently create against professional defenders.
But that’s exactly why I’m excited about this opportunity.
I don’t think Deuce Vaughn is finished.
In fact, I think he still can be a good NFL player if he finds the right role and gets a legitimate opportunity.
He probably isn’t going to be a traditional workhorse running back. That’s not the point.
Vaughn can potentially provide value as a change-of-pace runner, receiving option, space player and return specialist. His smaller frame could actually make him difficult to locate in certain situations, particularly when he’s operating in space.
The question isn’t whether Vaughn can suddenly become Derrick Henry.
The question is whether an NFL team can figure out how to maximize what Vaughn does well.
I believe the answer to that question could be yes.
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