Another year, another Texans head coach fired.
Houston made the decision to part ways with Lovie Smith on Sunday after he finished the season with a 3-13-1 record — the second-worst in the NFL. Only a last-second win over the Colts in Week 18 prevented the franchise from securing the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.
It continues a run of three straight seasons in which the team has fired a head coach. The last man to last more than a year in the job was Bill O’Brien. David Culley was at the helm in 2021, but was also relieved of his duties at the end of the year after a 4-13 campaign.
MORE: Why did the Texans fire Lovie Smith?
Some fans have become disgruntled with the constant change. The pressure is growing for GM Nick Caserio and the front office to find a long-term solution as the franchise heads into yet another season of rebuilding.
The Sporting News is tracking the latest on the Texans’ search for a new head coach
Full list of Texans coaching candidates, interview requests
The team has requested interviews with each of the following coaches:
Jonathan Gannon, Eagles defensive coordinator
The Texans requested an interview with Gannon, who has overseen an impressive season for Philadelphia’s defense. The unit has given up the NFL’s second-fewest yards per game, and has held opposing teams to just 20.2 points per game on average. He has previously held roles as a defensive quality control coach for the Falcons and Titans, and as a defensive backs coach for the Vikings and Colts.
The Texans on Saturday confirmed they had interviewed Gannon:
We have completed an interview with Jonathan Gannon for our head coaching position. pic.twitter.com/YKM22SeeDT
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 14, 2023
Shane Steichen, Eagles offensive coordinator
Houston’s interest in members of Philly’s staff doesn’t end with Gannon. They’ve also requested an interview with Steichen, one of the masterminds behind the Eagles’ offensive success this year. He has previously worked as a defensive assistant, offensive quality control coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the Chargers, and as an offensive quality control coach for the Browns.
Ben Johnson, Lions offensive coordinator
Johnson oversaw an impressive turnaround for Detroit’s offense this season as Dan Campbell’s OC. The Lions were fourth in the league in total yards per game and fifth in the league in points per game this year. Johnson spent seven years in various offensive assistant coaching roles for the Dolphins from 2012 to 2018 before making the switch to Detroit, where he was promoted to the OC position this year after previously serving as an offensive quality control coach and a tight ends coach.
Johnson interviewed with the Texans on Jan. 12, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
MORE: Ranking the 6 best candidates to replace Lovie Smith
DeMeco Ryans, 49ers defensive coordinator
Ryans played as a linebacker for the Texans for six years between 2006 and 2011. He entered the world of coaching with the 49ers back in 2017, and he quickly worked his way up to defensive coordinator. His San Francisco defense has been simply outstanding this season, leading the NFL in average yards allowed per game (300.6) and average points allowed per game (16.3).
Ejiro Evero, Broncos defensive coordinator
Evero has bounced around the NFL as a coach, spending time with the Buccaneers, 49ers, Packers and Rams before landing with the Broncos as a defensive coordinator this season. While the team limped to a 5-12 this season, it certainly wasn’t the fault of the defense, which gave up the 7th fewest yards to opposing teams this season (320.0 per game).
Evero is set to interview with Houston the week of Jan. 16, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Mike Kafka, Giants offensive coordinator
A former journeyman QB, Kafka is a descendent of the Andy Reid coaching tree. Once playing for Reid, Kafka joined the Chiefs as an offensive quality control coach before making his way to QB coach and passing game coordinator. In his first season with the Giants, Kafka has turned the Giants from the worst scoring team in the NFL into a top-15 team in points per game (21.5) during the regular season. He has also led an offense that saw Saquon Barkley have a career-high 1,312 rushing yards and Daniel Jones to his highest QB rating (92.5).
Thomas Brown, Rams assistant head coach/tight ends coach
The Texans have requested an interview with Brown, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, marking the first that he has received this coaching cycle. The 36-year-old was a sixth-round pick out of Georgia in 2008 and played running back at the NFL level for three seasons with the Falcons and Browns.
Brown has experience as a college offensive coordinator at Miami (2016-18) and has been with the Rams since 2020. He has coached running backs and tight ends while serving in his assistant head coach role, so he could be ready to take the next step and lead a young Texans team.
Sean Payton, former Saints head coach
A late and perhaps surprising addition to the list, the Texans have an interview upcoming with former Saints coach Sean Payton, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
The Texans weren’t necessarily viewed as a desirable destination for Payton, for whom quarterback will be an important factor. But it’s possible he could be looking to duplicate his move to the 2006 Saints, which came in tandem with Drew Brees. If he loves either C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, or both, perhaps Payton would consider entering a rebuild situation.