Swearinger competed with Eddie Pleasant for the vacant starting strong safety job after Daniel Manning departed during the off season via free agency.
New Houston Texans' head coach Bill O'Brien named Swearinger the starting strong safety to begin the 2014 season.

The next preseason, Swearinger was involved in a hit that caused a concussion on Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker.
On the following play, Broncos' quarterback Peyton Manning confronted Swearinger after completing a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, later resulting in Manning's first fine in his NFL career.

He started the Houston Texans' season-opener against the Washington Redskins' and recorded eight combined tackles and his first career sack on Robert Griffin III during their 17-6 victory.
On October 26, 2014, he collected three combined tackles, deflected two passes, and intercepted a pass attempt by Tennessee Titans' quarterback Zach Mettenberger during the Texans' 30-16 victory.
The next game, he tied his season-high of eight combined tackles, as the Houston Texans lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 21-31.
He finished the season with a career-high 73 combined tackles (51 solo), six pass deflections, two interceptions, and a sack in 12 starts and 16 games.
Pro Football Focus ranked him the 78th best safety out of 87 during the 2014 season.
Under Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel, he was used as a safety/linebacker hybrid and was primarily used in the box for run support.
Swearinger competed with Eddie Pleasant for the vacant starting strong safety job after Daniel Manning departed during the off season via free agency. New Houston Texans' head coach Bill O'Brien named Swearinger the starting strong safety to begin the 2014 season.
The next preseason, Swearinger was involved in a hit that caused a concussion on Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker. On the following play, Broncos' quarterback Peyton Manning confronted Swearinger after completing a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, later resulting in Manning's first fine in his NFL career.
He started the Houston Texans' season-opener against the Washington Redskins' and recorded eight combined tackles and his first career sack on Robert Griffin III during their 17-6 victory. On October 26, 2014, he collected three combined tackles, deflected two passes, and intercepted a pass attempt by Tennessee Titans' quarterback Zach Mettenberger during the Texans' 30-16 victory. The next game, he tied his season-high of eight combined tackles, as the Houston Texans lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 21-31. He finished the season with a career-high 73 combined tackles (51 solo), six pass deflections, two interceptions, and a sack in 12 starts and 16 games. Pro Football Focus ranked him the 78th best safety out of 87 during the 2014 season. Under Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel, he was used as a safety/linebacker hybrid and was primarily used in the box for run support.
D. J. Swearinger