Houston Texans take unusual road in promoting Lovie Smith to head coach – Houston Texans Blog

HOUSTON — When the Houston Texans fired David Culley, normal supervisor Nick Caserio cited “philosophical variations” with the top coach, with some stories pointing to Culley wanting to maintain his teaching employees intact.

However nearly a month after firing Culley, following interviews with six exterior candidates, Caserio employed a member of Culley’s teaching employees in Lovie Smith. Smith, who would be the fifth head coach in franchise historical past (excluding interim coaches), was the Texans’ defensive coordinator and affiliate head coach in 2021. He spent the earlier 5 seasons teaching the College of Illinois, the place he amassed a 17-39 file earlier than being fired.

The Texans interviewed three candidates twice: former NFL quarterback Josh McCown, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores. Others with whom the Texans spoke included Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and former Steelers huge receiver and present Florida Atlantic receivers coach Hines Ward.

Some within the Texans group have lengthy considered McCown as a candidate. When Houston signed McCown in November 2020, a number of sources informed ESPN that he may get employed as a part of a future Texans’ teaching employees, maybe even as the subsequent everlasting coach to exchange Invoice O’Brien. That didn’t occur, although he did interview for the opening. To the shock of many, he was near being employed to exchange Culley.

However late within the course of, Houston pivoted to Smith, interviewing him for the opening Sunday. The Texans employed him Monday.

Smith, who’s Black, joins the Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel, the New York Jets’ Robert Saleh, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin and the Washington Commanders’ Ron Rivera because the league’s solely minority head coaches.

Smith has the head-coaching expertise Culley — who spent 43 seasons as an assistant within the NFL and school with out ever being an NFL coordinator — lacked. With the Chicago Bears (2004-12) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15), he had a mixed 89-87 file.

Smith has been to the Tremendous Bowl twice, as soon as as a head coach (2006) and as soon as as defensive coordinator for the Rams (2001).

Whereas Smith may need made sense as a rent as an alternative of Culley a yr in the past, the method to get right here — firing Culley after which interviewing Smith greater than three weeks later after going by the search course of with six different candidates — doesn’t.

In his information convention after firing Culley, Caserio stated “the group was in a fairly tough spot” a yr in the past however is “in loads higher place” now. Whether or not that may result in wins and a staff that takes a step ahead after ending third within the AFC South twice in a row stays to be seen.

In February 2021, the Texans had employed Caserio and Culley and quarterback Deshaun Watson had requested to be traded. Now, the Texans hope they’ll have the ability to jettison Watson, who faces 22 lively lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate conduct throughout therapeutic massage classes, earlier than the commerce deadline. His ongoing authorized points might be a roadblock, particularly if he finally ends up dealing with legal prices. Watson has denied wrongdoing.

Watson’s authorized scenario, alongside along with his commerce request, led to the quarterback making $10 million final season below the ultimate yr of his rookie contract as a wholesome scratch for all 17 video games.

In 2022, Watson is about to make $35 million, and in March, his $20 million 2023 wage and $17 million 2023 roster bonus change into absolutely assured.

Even earlier than a possible Watson commerce, Caserio and Smith could have improved draft capital to work with this yr. Houston, which has had only one first-round decide since 2017, has the No. 3 total decide within the April draft. If Caserio trades Watson, the Texans may have a treasure trove of picks to take their rebuild to the subsequent degree.

In Caserio’s end-of-season information convention, he downplayed any strain he could really feel after firing his first coach after one season. And whereas staff CEO and chairman Cal McNair has made it clear he believes in Caserio’s imaginative and prescient, after hiring his second coach in 13 months, Caserio should hope Smith is a long-term answer and a coach he can construct this staff round.