He played college football at Georgia, where he earned All-American honors, and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft.

He received a late first-round projection by NFL draft experts prior to his failed drug test.

[11] He dropped to the third round after initially being projected as a late first-round pick due to a failed drug test at the NFL Combine.

[18] He finished his rookie season with 56 combined tackles (46 solo), 5.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 16 games and ten starts.

[19] Houston received the Mack Lee Hill Award after teammates and coaches determined he was the best rookie on the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011.

Head coach Romeo Crennel named Houston and Tamba Hali the starting outside linebackers to begin the season.

[22] On September 23, 2012, Houston made four combined tackles, a season-high three sacks, deflected two passes, and earned the first safety of his career during a 27–24 comeback overtime victory at the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.

Houston sacked Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees for a seven-yard loss in the end zone for a safety during the fourth quarter.

[23] On October 14, 2012, Houston recorded three combined tackles, deflected a pass, and made his first career interception as the Chiefs lost 38–10 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.

Houston intercepted a pass by Buccaneers’ quarterback Josh Freeman, that was intended for tight end Dallas Clark, and returned it for a 45-yard gain during the first quarter.

On December 31, 2012, the Kansas City Chiefs fired head coach Romeo Crennel after they finished the season with a 2–14 record.

[25] Houston started in all 16 games, recording 66 combined tackles (53 solo), ten sacks, six pass deflections, one forced fumble, one interception, and a safety.

This became Houston's first Pro Bowl selection of his career as he joined fellow linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali.

[31] In Week 11, he collected a season-high ten combined tackles (nine solo) and deflected a pass as the Chiefs lost 27–17 at the Denver Broncos.

[34] He finished the 2013 NFL season with 44 combined tackles (40 solo), 11 sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 11 games and 11 starts.

In Week 13, Houston collected a season-high eight combined tackles, deflected two passes, and made one sack in a 29–16 loss against the Denver Broncos.

[38] Houston started in all 16 games in 2014 and recorded a career-high 69 combined tackles (60 solo), 22 sacks, five pass deflections, and four forced fumbles.

[41] On July 15, 2015, hours before the deadline for long-term deals on franchise players, the Chiefs signed Houston to a six-year contract worth $101 million.

He then turned in a dominant performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 12, finishing the game with 10 tackles and three sacks, one of which forced a fumble and resulted in a safety.

[55] In week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston recorded a sack on Mason Rudolph in the end zone, resulting in a safety, and recovered a fumble forced by Marvell Tell on running back Jaylen Samuels in the 26–24 loss.

[56] After the Colts acquired DeForest Buckner in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, Houston reverted to #50, his number with the Kansas City Chiefs.