Vince Wilfork says he will sign with Texans

Free-agent defensive tackle Vince Wilfork will sign with the Houston Texans, he tweeted on Monday. Wilfork's contract will be for two years, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports.

Wilfork, 33, had spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the New England Patriots before the team declined to pick up his option earlier this month.

“The coaching staff in Houston has made this new exciting transition feel like home to us,” Wilfork said. “We will forever be Patriots in our hearts. Thank you everyone for everything.”

• Report: Texans sign wide receiver Cecil Shorts

Wilfork played all 16 regular season games for the Patriots in four of the past five seasons. He tore his Achilles tendon in the fourth game of the season in 2013. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons from 2009–12.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick later released a statement about Wilfork's departure, calling him "the best defensive linemen I ever coached" and "an all-time great Patriot." From the statement:

"Few players reached or will ever reach the special level of Vince Wilfork. He is a great champion and one of the classiest people I have ever been around—just a kind, genuine and giving person who was all about our team, football, winning and bringing joy to others. There may have never been anyone at his position with as much strength, toughness, intelligence, instinctiveness and athleticism."

Wilfork will be reunited in Houston with defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who held the same position in New England from 2001–04. Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel is the Texans' linebackers coach, and former New England offensive assistant Bill O'Brien is the team's head coach.

- Dan Gartland

GALLERY: NFL PLAYERS WHO'LL BE IN A NEW UNIFORM IN 2015

The NFL's Old Faces in New Places

DeMarco Murray, RB

Here are some of the NFL players who'll be with a different team when the 2015 season opens, beginning with DeMarco Murray, who's moving on from the Dallas Cowboys to NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles.

LeSean McCoy, RB

Old team: Eagles; New team: Bills

Ndamukong Suh, DT

Old team: Lions; New team: Dolphins

Jimmy Graham, TE

Old team: Saints; New team: Seahawks

Darrelle Revis, CB

Old team: Patriots; New team: Jets

Brandon Marshall, WR

Old team: Bears; New team: Jets

Darren McFadden, RB

Old team: Raiders; New team: Cowboys

Haloti Ngata, DT

Old team: Ravens; New team: Lions

Julius Thomas, TE

Old team: Broncos ; New team: Jaguars

Frank Gore, RB

Old team: 49ers; New team: Colts

Antrel Rolle, SS

Old team: Giants; New team: Bears

Nick Foles, QB

Old team: Eagles; New team: Rams

Sam Bradford, QB

Old team: Rams; New team: Eagles

Jeremy Maclin, WR

Old team: Eagles; New team: Chiefs

Torrey Smith, WR

Old team: Ravens; New team: 49ers

Andre Johnson, WR

Old team: Texans; New team: Colts

Byron Maxwell, CB

Old team: Seattle; New team: Eagles

Trent Cole, LB

Old team: Eagles; New team: Colts

Darnell Dockett, DT

Old team: Cardinals; New team: 49ers

Shane Vereen, RB

Old team: Patriots; New team: Giants

Brian Hoyer, QB

Old team: Browns; New team: Texans

Josh McCown, QB

Old team: Bucs; New team: Browns

Cary Williams, CB

Old team: Eagles; New team: Seahawks

Matt Cassell, QB

Old team: Vikings; New team: Bills

Kenny Stills, WR

Old team: Saints; New team: Dolphins

Jared Odrick, DT

Old team: Dolphins; New team: Jaguars

Jacoby Jones, WR

Old team: Ravens; New team: Chargers

Max Unger, C

Old team: Seahawks; New team: Saints

Mike Iupati, G

Old team: 49ers; New team: Cardinals

Rodney Hudson, C

Old team: Chiefs; New team: Raiders

Orlando Franklin, G

Old team: Broncos; New team: Chargers

Kiko Alonso, LB

Old team: Bills; New team: Eagles

Pernell McPhee, LB

Old team: Ravens; New team: Bears

C.J. Spiller, RB

Old team: Bills; New team: Saints

Nick Fairley, DT

Old team: Lions; New team: Rams

Mike Wallace, WR

Old team: Dophins; New team: Vikings

Percy Harvin, WR

Old team: Jets; New team: Bills

Davon House, CB

Old team: Packers; New team: Jaguars

Owen Daniels, TE

Old team: Ravens; New team: Broncos

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB

Old team: Texans; New team: Jets

Chris Culliver, CB

Old team: 49ers; New team: Redskins

Jerome Simpson, WR

Old team: Vikings; New team; 49ers

Michael Oher, OT

Old team: Titans; New team: Panthers

Brian Orakpo, LB

Old team: Redskins; New team: Titans

Harry Douglas, WR

Old team: Falcons; New team: Titans

Ricky Jean-Francois, DT

Old team: Colts; New team: Redskins

A.J. Hawk, LB

Old team: Packers; New team: Bengals

Tyvon Branch, SS

Old team: Raiders; New team: Seahawks

Jordan Cameron, TE

Old team: Browns; New team: Dolphins

Buster Skrine, CB

Old team: Browns; New team: Jets

Shaun HIll, QB

Old team: Rams; New team: Vikings

Dwayne Harris, RB

Old team: Cowboys; New team: Giants

Scott Chandler, TE

Old team: Bills; New team: Patriots

LaMarr Woodley, LB

Old team: Raiders; New team: Chiefs

Reggie Bush, RB

Old team: Lions; New team: 49ers

Dashon Goldson, FS

Old team: Bucs; New team: Redskins

Trent Richardson, RB

Old team: Colts; New team: Raiders