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Texans hire Ravens passing game coordinator David Culley for head coaching vacancy

The Houston Texans have fired Bill O’Brien and have begun the search process for their next head coach. Here we’ll keep you up to date on the latest news and rumors.

Head coach Bill O’Brien of the Houston Texans looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on September 10, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

JAN 27 UPDATE: The Texans are hiring David Culley to be their next head coach, per John McClain. Culley spent the past two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens as assistant head coach, wide receivers coach, and passing game coordinator.

Bill O’Brien won the Houston Texans coaching job in 2014 and, during that tenure, managed a winning record in five of his seven seasons with the team. He also leaves the team with four AFC South titles. That might sound nice, but as the AFC South grows more competitive between the Titans and Colts, it’s exposed some of O’Brien’s poor decision making.

O’Brien had formally assumed the role as the Texans general manager to close out the 2019 NFL season. In his short time with the role, he made some controversial moves that have certainly depleted the toolbox for the next GM to come.

Some of Bill O’Brien’s most notorious trades in tenure as GM

  • Texans acquire Duke Johnson Jr., while Browns acquire a conditional fourth-round pick, which became a third-round pick.
  • Texans acquire Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, Miami’s 2020 fourth-round pick, 2021 sixth-round pick. Dolphins acquire Houston’s 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first-round pick, 2021 second-round pick, ST player Johnson Bademosi and OL Julien Davenport. The 2021 pick traded by the Texans is a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
  • Texans acquire RB David Johnson, 2020 second-round pick, 2021 fourth-round pick. Cardinals acquire WR DeAndre Hopkins, 2020 fourth-round pick.

The Texans have locked down their star QB and a tackle to protect him, along with J.J. Watt on the defense. However, the next head coach of the Texans’ will have some work to do in order to provide the team with enough weapons to succeed on both sides of the ball.

Interviews

Texans interview quarterback Josh McCown for head coaching job, per Aaron Wilson.

Texans interview former Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell for head coaching job, per Aaron Wilson.

The Houston Texans have already interviewed former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. Lewis, who has spent this season as the defensive coordinator and advisor for the Arizona State Sun Devils, also interviewed with the Detroit Lions. Caldwell last coached in the NFL in 2017 with the Lions, where he had two playoff appearances in four seasons.

Interview request

Texans’ request interview with Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, per Aaron Wilson.

The Texans have asked to interview Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, per Ian Rapoport. They will not be able to officially interview him until the Chiefs season is over.

Texans have asked to interview Ravens assistant head coach David Culley, per Mark Berman.

Texans will interview Bills defensive coordinator and former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, per Pro Football Talk.

Rumored interest

The Texans will also keep tabs on Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, New England Patriots ILB coach Jerod Mayo, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, and Tennessee Titans OC Arthur Smith.