Imagine driving up to a gated estate in Missouri City, Texas, where suburban streets give way to Mediterranean grandeur. This is what visitors encounter at the former home of Brian Cushing, the Houston Texans linebacker who built a reputation as one of the NFL’s most physical defenders.
Built in 2007 within the master-planned Sienna Plantation community, this house served as a private retreat for Cushing and his family for years. It’s not just about the square footage; it reflects the lifestyle of a professional athlete who needed space to recover, recharge, and live away from the intensity of game days.
Walking into this estate is like stepping into a world where comfort meets performance. Every room carries intention — from the materials chosen for the foyer to the layout designed for both family life and hosting teammates.
Let’s explore the architecture and design details that define this property.
The Mediterranean Charm of the Brian Cushing House
This Mediterranean-style estate is a standout in the Houston area. It blends Old World grandeur with the warmth of a family home. From the street, the stucco facade and terracotta tones signal a level of craftsmanship that goes beyond typical suburban construction.
Architectural Style and Curb Appeal
The home’s architecture draws from classic Mediterranean design — arched windows, textured stucco exteriors, and a roofline that adds depth and shadow. The proportions feel deliberate, giving the property a sense of permanence that newer constructions often lack.
Landscaping reinforces that impression. Manicured hedges, mature trees, and structured garden beds frame the entryway. The overall effect is a property that feels established rather than simply new — a home with character.
The Prestige of the Sienna Plantation Location
Location is a major part of this property’s appeal. Sienna Plantation is one of Missouri City’s most recognized master-planned communities, known for its landscaped common areas, recreational facilities, and access to nearby lakes.
Living inside a gated community adds a layer of security and privacy that suits the Cushings’ lifestyle. For a public figure dealing with the visibility that comes with professional football, that separation between home and the outside world mattered. Here’s how this community compares to a standard neighborhood:
| Feature | Sienna Plantation | Standard Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Gated Community Access | Open Access |
| Landscaping | Professional Maintenance | Individual Responsibility |
| Privacy | High | Moderate |
| Community Status | Prestigious | Average |
This Mediterranean-style estate within Sienna Plantation offered something rare — architectural distinction inside a community that already had strong infrastructure and reputation.
Stepping Into the Grand Foyer
The entrance sets the tone immediately. At just over 7,000 square feet, this home needed a foyer that matched its scale — and it delivers.
Design Elements and First Impressions
The grand foyer features an ornately detailed tile inlay on the floor, a design choice that signals craftsmanship from the first step. Wrought-iron bannisters sweep upward along the staircase, adding visual weight and leading the eye toward the upper levels. High ceilings amplify the sense of space, making the entrance feel open without losing warmth.
What makes this foyer particularly interesting is how it connects to the rest of the house. The second level features a billiards area that overlooks the foyer below — an architectural detail that creates vertical sightlines and a sense of openness between floors. It’s the kind of feature that turns a hallway into a destination.
The Flow Between Living Spaces
The home’s layout encourages movement. Rooms connect in a way that feels natural rather than forced — you can move from the formal areas to the casual living spaces without encountering dead ends. This matters in a home designed for both intimate family evenings and larger gatherings with teammates and friends.
Below is a breakdown of how the foyer connects to the main living areas:
| Feature | Foyer Area | Living Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | First Impression | Daily Comfort |
| Ceiling Height | Soaring/Vaulted | Expansive/Open |
| Design Focus | Architectural Detail | Flow and Utility |
| Atmosphere | Formal Elegance | Relaxed Luxury |
A Culinary Haven: The Gourmet Kitchen
For a home designed around both family life and entertaining, the kitchen carries a lot of weight. This one was built to handle both roles comfortably.
High-End Appliances and Custom Cabinetry
Professional-grade appliances anchor the space, paired with custom cabinetry that provides substantial storage while keeping the visual lines clean. The materials chosen — from countertops to hardware — reflect a commitment to quality that holds up over years of daily use.
The layout is open enough that the kitchen doesn’t feel isolated from the rest of the main floor. Whether it’s a weekday dinner or a post-game gathering, the cook stays connected to whoever else is in the house.
Entertaining Guests in Style
The kitchen’s island serves as a natural gathering point. Guests gravitate toward it during events, and the open sightlines to the adjacent living areas keep conversations flowing. For someone like Cushing, whose teammates were regular visitors during the season, a kitchen that doubles as social space was practical, not just aesthetic.
| Feature | Standard Kitchen | Gourmet Kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Appliances | Basic Models | Professional-Grade |
| Cabinetry | Stock Units | Bespoke Custom |
| Countertops | Laminate | Premium Stone |
| Layout | Closed Off | Open Concept |
Relaxation and Luxury in the Five Bedrooms
The private quarters of this home reflect the same attention to detail found in the common areas. With five bedrooms and five bathrooms (four full, two half), every occupant and guest has a dedicated space and privacy.
The Primary Suite Experience
The primary suite is built for recovery — a priority for a professional athlete whose body endures significant physical stress throughout the season. The attached bathroom features premium fixtures, generous counter space, and a soaking tub designed for post-game muscle recovery.
Large windows bring in natural light during the day, while layered lighting options allow the mood to shift in the evening. The suite functions as a genuine retreat — a place where the noise of NRG Stadium feels very far away.
Guest Accommodations and Privacy
The four additional bedrooms are set up to accommodate family visits, out-of-town friends, and — during the season — teammates stopping by for film sessions or pre-game hangouts. Each room has access to its own bathroom, which keeps the morning logistics simple when the house is full.
Soft textures, neutral tones, and quality finishes run throughout these rooms. The goal was comfort without clutter — spaces where guests feel welcome without the house losing its sense of identity.
Entertainment and Leisure Features
This estate was designed to function as a complete living environment — not just a place to sleep and eat, but a space where downtime is genuinely enjoyable.
The Media Room as a Dual-Purpose Space
The media room served a dual purpose in this household. On game weeks, it was a film study space — a place where Cushing could break down opponents’ formations and review his own performance. On off-days, it became a home theater for movies and sports viewing with family and friends.
High-quality audio and comfortable seating make the space work equally well for both functions. It’s a practical feature that reflects how professional athletes blend work and home life more than most people realize.
Smart Home Automation Systems
The property includes a home automation system that integrates lighting, climate control, and security into a single interface. For a household that valued both convenience and privacy, this technology made daily operations seamless — adjusting the environment with a few taps rather than manual adjustments throughout the house.
This kind of integrated system also supports the security infrastructure that a gated community alone can’t fully provide. Interior control adds a second layer of confidence.
Outdoor Living and the Custom Pool
The outdoor space extends the home’s living area significantly. In Houston’s climate, a well-designed backyard isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity for several months of the year.
Lake Views and Landscaping
The property’s position within Sienna Plantation provides views of the community lake, adding a sense of openness that larger lots in denser neighborhoods can’t replicate. Landscaping around the property is structured to frame these views while maintaining privacy from neighboring homes.
Mature trees, stone pathways, and garden beds create a setting that feels like a personal retreat rather than a suburban backyard. The connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces is intentional — large windows and access points blur the line between the two.
Hosting and the Custom Pool Area
The backyard’s custom pool and spa served as the centerpiece for outdoor entertaining during Houston’s long warm season. A spacious patio accommodates lounge seating, outdoor dining, and grilling — all the elements needed for post-season cookouts and summer gatherings with family.
The layout allows guests to move comfortably between the pool area and shaded seating, keeping the social flow active even during the hottest months.
The Legacy of a Houston Texans Star
This house wasn’t just a real estate transaction — it was a chapter in the story of one of the Houston Texans’ most impactful defensive players.
From New Jersey to the NFL
Brian Cushing grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey, and attended Bergen Catholic High School, where he was named the 2004 North Jersey Player of the Year. His talent earned him a scholarship to USC, where he became a key piece of a dominant Trojans defense.
At USC, Cushing was named Defensive MVP of the 2007 Rose Bowl, recording 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He and Archie Griffin remain the only two players in the game’s history to start in all four of their college seasons’ Rose Bowl appearances — a distinction that speaks to both his consistency and the caliber of the program he played for.
The Houston Texans selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Cushing earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and was named a Pro Bowl starter. He recorded 133 tackles that year, tying Ray Lewis for the AFC lead — a statistic that immediately placed him among the league’s elite at his position.
The Injury That Changed the Timeline
In October 2012, Cushing suffered a torn ACL that ended his season. He was forced to watch from the sideline as the Texans were eliminated by the New England Patriots in the playoffs. Shortly after, in early 2013, the Missouri City estate was listed for sale at $1,299,900.
The timing raised questions about whether the injury and the move were connected. Whether it was a planned transition or an accelerated one, the listing marked the end of the family’s chapter in Sienna Plantation.
Family Life and the Houston Sports Connection
Cushing met his wife, Megan Ohai, at USC — she was a soccer player for the Trojans. Their shared background as Division I athletes created a foundation for family life that balanced the demands of professional sports with a grounded home environment.
Megan’s family connections run deep in Houston sports. Her younger sister, Kealia Ohai, is a professional soccer player who married J.J. Watt, Cushing’s former Texans teammate and one of the most recognized defensive players in NFL history. The Cushing-Watt family connection made Missouri City and the broader Houston area more than just a place to live; it became a genuine community for both families.
Brian and Megan have two sons, Cayden and Luca. Megan has built a career as a fitness professional in Houston, running boutique fitness operations that reflect the same athletic discipline that defined both their college years.
| Aspect of Life | Professional Focus | Home Environment |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | NFL Linebacker | Husband and Father |
| Daily Pace | High Intensity | Relaxed Comfort |
| Key Location | NRG Stadium | Missouri City Estate |
| Recovery Need | Physical Rehabilitation | Privacy and Space |
After Missouri City: A New Chapter in West University Place
The Cushings’ story didn’t end with the Sienna Plantation listing. The family eventually moved to West University Place, one of Houston’s most affluent inner suburbs, purchasing a newly built home for $2.2 million.
The three-story Traditional-style residence sits on a tree-lined street and offers over 5,400 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, a library, a wine cellar, and a game room with a spiral staircase. An elevator shaft services all three levels.
West University Place carries its own prestige. The city is home to figures like Craig Biggio and Jeff Van Gundy, and its proximity to Rice Village — a pedestrian-friendly shopping district with over 300 stores — and Rice University gives it a distinct identity. The neighborhood is known as “The Neighborhood City” and consistently ranks among the wealthiest suburbs in Texas.
The move from a 7,000-square-foot Mediterranean estate to a 5,400-square-foot Traditional home reflects a shift in priorities — from suburban sprawl to walkable, community-oriented living closer to central Houston.
Conclusion
The Missouri City estate represents a specific moment in Brian Cushing’s life — the peak of his NFL career, a growing family, and the need for a home that could support both. Its Mediterranean architecture, gated-community setting, and carefully designed living spaces made it a natural fit for a professional athlete who valued privacy, recovery, and family time.
That chapter eventually gave way to a new one in West University Place, where the family found a different kind of community — smaller, walkable, and closer to the city. Together, the two properties tell the story of how a professional athlete’s housing choices evolve alongside career and family.
The Missouri City home remains a notable piece of Houston-area real estate — not just for its size or style, but for the life that unfolded inside it.
FAQs
Where is the Brian Cushing house located?
The former Cushing family home is located on 26 Commanders Cove within the Sienna Plantation master-planned community in Missouri City, Texas. The family later moved to West University Place, where they purchased a newer property.
What style is the Missouri City estate?
The home is a Mediterranean-style estate built in 2007, featuring stucco walls, arched details, and a terracotta-toned roofline consistent with the architectural tradition.
How big is the house?
The Missouri City property offers just over 7,000 square feet of living space. The newer West University Place home measures approximately 5,400 square feet across three stories.
How many bedrooms and bathrooms does the Missouri City home have?
The home has five bedrooms and five bathrooms — four full bathrooms and two half baths.
What was the listing price when the property went on the market?
The estate was listed in early 2013 at $1,299,900.
Does the property have a pool?
Yes, the home includes a custom pool and spa in the backyard, along with views of the community lake within Sienna Plantation.
What smart technology does the home include?
The property features a home automation system that controls lighting, climate, and security through an integrated interface.
Who is Megan Ohai?
Megan Ohai is Brian Cushing’s wife and a former USC soccer player. Her younger sister, Kealia Ohai, married former Texans star J.J. Watt. Megan works as a fitness professional in the Houston area.
How many children do Brian and Megan Cushing have?
The couple has two sons — Cayden and Luca.
Why did the Cushings leave Missouri City?
While the exact reasons weren’t publicly detailed, the property was listed in early 2013 following Cushing’s ACL injury. The family eventually relocated to West University Place, a smaller, walkable community closer to central Houston.
