The likely next head coach of the Houston Texans wasn’t even among their initial group of finalists.
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported Monday morning that “all signs pointing to” former Bears head coach Lovie Smith becoming the Texans’ next head coach. Smith, 63, spent the 2021 season as the Texans’ defensive coordinator under since-fired David Culley. NFL Network also reported Houston is “moving towards” making Smith its head coach.
The Texans announced Monday morning they had completed “additional discussions” with Smith about the head coaching vacancy.
Multiple reports last week stated the three finalists for the Texans’ head coaching position were former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and former NFL quarterback Josh McCown. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reported Sunday that Gannon was informed he wasn’t getting the job.
That left the Texans with Flores, who last week sued the NFL and its clubs for racial discrimination, and McCown, who has no coaching experience beyond the high school level. McCown will also miss out on the Texans’ offensive coordinator position, which is expected to go to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton.
Smith’s candidacy emerged in multiple reports Sunday night. He was the Bears head coach from 2004-12, which included three playoff appearances and one trip to the Super Bowl. Smith had an 81-63 record over his nine seasons in Chicago before going 8-24 in two seasons as the Buccaneers head coach from 2014-15. He then jumped to the college level to coach Illinois for five seasons, going 17-39 before returning to the NFL last year.
Culley, 66, got his first NFL head coaching job with the Texans last year but was fired after one 4-13 season.