Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio has decided to part ways with head coach David Culley after one season. Which former Patriots are on the radar?
The Houston Texans have decided to move on from head coach David Culley after just one season with the team.
Culley never really stood much of a chance with the roster that was assembled in Houston, and perhaps knew going into this year that he was really a “bridge” head coach option to get the Texans through a tumultuous year.
While that is merely speculation at this point, it’s hard to argue against the fact that Culley did a good job with the players he was given to work with, and Houston’s surprising development of rookie quarterback Davis Mills is a notch on the belt of Culley and his staff.
Which HC options with Patriots ties could the Houston Texans be after?
#Texans coach David Culley called a 2 pm staff meeting to inform his staff himself. As soon as he was done, the news was official. Culley was out after one season. https://t.co/aC1bOgTg7l
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 13, 2022
Given the fact that the Houston Texans general manager — Nick Caserio — came from the New England Patriots, it stands to reason that he would be interested in hiring a former Patriot to come and work for him as the head coach in Houston.
The timing wasn’t right in 2021 but in 2022? He might have a few options.
1. Brian Flores, former Miami Dolphins HC
Now, this would certainly thicken the plot in Houston, wouldn’t it?
The Texans and Deshaun Watson seemingly have a relationship beyond repair, and it was rumored over the course of the last couple of months that Watson had interest in playing for the Miami Dolphins, specifically because of the presence of head coach Brian Flores.
Well, what about if the Houston Texans were to hire Flores? Would that be enough to keep Watson around and happy?
Watson basically took a paid year off in 2021 with all of the allegations of sexual misconduct off the field, his trade request, and just generally the uncertainty of the future of this Texans franchise.
It’s anyone’s guess if the Texans could be motivated to try and keep Watson but could you really blame them?
Although initially, it appeared as though Houston wanted to have a resolution with Watson settled before the new league year in mid-March, perhaps now the availability of Flores could change things drastically.
Houston Texans option no. 2: Josh McDaniels, Patriots OC
When Nick Caserio was initially hired by the Houston Texans, there were plenty of rumors surrounding longtime Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
McDaniels got a head coaching opportunity back in 2009 with the Denver Broncos. Late Hall of Famer Pat Bowlen likely thought — at the time — that McDaniels could become for the Broncos what Sean McVay has become for the Los Angeles Rams.
Unfortunately, McDaniels was anything but. He completely gutted a talented offensive roster and was fired midway through the 2010 season after someone on his staff was caught filming the San Francisco 49ers’ practice at the two teams’ London game.
McDaniels’ most recent head coaching opportunity came with the Indianapolis Colts, a job he accepted and then backed out of.
How can anyone really trust this guy?
Anyone, that is, except for Bill Belichick.
McDaniels and Caserio undoubtedly know each other very well. That relationship and prior history together along with the opportunity to really shape this roster however they want could appeal to McDaniels.
Houston Texans candidate no. 3: Jerod Mayo, Patriots LBs coach
The third potential candidate for the Houston Texans with a New England Patriots connection is Patriots linebacker coach Jerod Mayo.
Mayo was the Patriots’ first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the first year that Nick Caserio was promoted to Director of Player Personnel.
Even though Caserio didn’t have final say over the roster (that is obviously Belichick), that seems like a notable connection right now as Mayo continues to receive hype as a potential head coach candidate.
The Patriots obviously have one of the toughest defenses in the league, and Mayo’s linebacker unit is a big part of that.
He has leadership qualities and the type of energy to really be the right catalyst in the head coaching seat for a team like Houston that is clearly in a long-term rebuild mode.
Although adding Jerod Mayo may not keep Deshaun Watson around, he would be the type of coach to get the Texans through some tough years and perhaps motivate that team to more wins than they thought capable, similar to what Brian Flores did with the Miami Dolphins.