On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The NFL granted Houston an expansion team in 2002 and that's when the Houston Texans were born. Since entering the league in 2002, the Texans have had eight different head coaches. After one decade, the Texans had just two head coaches, and after two decades, that number grew to seven.
The Texans had stability at the head coaching spot for several years with Bill O'Brien at the helm, but after firing him early in the 2020 season, they went on to have four head coaches over the next three years.
Hopefully, the Texans have found consistency with DeMeco Ryans and this number won't grow from eight for quite some time. With all of that said, let's take a look at every head coach in Texans history.
Every Texans head coach in franchise history
Dom Capers
The first head coach in Texans franchise history was Dom Capers, who had experience as an expansion head coach, serving in that role for the Carolina Panthers during their first four seasons. Capers had a defensive background, having worked as the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator in the years leading up to him taking the Texans job.
After the Texans failed to post a winning record in their first four years, Capers was fired and the Texans had to search for the second-ever head coach in franchise history.
Gary Kubiak
The second head coach in Texans history was Gary Kubiak, who had been the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos before the Texans hired him. The Texans had gone with a defensive-minded coach for their first hire so it made sense to hire someone with an offensive background for their second coach.
Kubiak slowly improved the Texans with them posting their first non-losing season in 2007 (his second year at the helm) and then getting them to their first winning season in 2009. The Texans made their first playoff appearance in 2011, Kubiak's sixth year leading the team, and they won their first playoff game that same season.
Unfortunately, the Texans had a miserable 2013 season and Kubiak had collapsed on the field during a midseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans fired him with three games remaining in the season.
Kubiak finished his Texans head coaching tenure with a 61-64 record and 2-2 playoff record. Considering how rough of shape the team was in when he got there, he was the right hire even if things didn't end on a great note.
Wade Phillips
After the Texans fired Gary Kubiak with three games to go in the 2013 season, Wade Phillips was named the interim head coach. Phillips had been the defensive coordinator of the Texans since 2011 but did not thrive in the head coaching role, as Houston went 0-3 under his tutelage. The two parted ways at the end of the season.
Bill O'Brien
In 2014, the Texans hired Bill O'Brien as the fourth head coach in franchise history. O'Brien had risen to fame as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions and he proved to be just what the Texans needed coming off a rough 2013 campaign.
O'Brien led the Texans to a winning record in his first year on the job. The Texans went 9-7 under O'Brien in his first three years, and in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, nine wins were enough to get Houston a division title.
The Texans suffered their first losing season under O'Brien in 2017 but bounced back and put together double-digit win seasons in 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, the team fumbled hard in the AFC Divisional Round against the Chiefs in the 2019 playoffs, blowing a 24-0 lead.
O'Brien was fired just four games into the 2020 season after Houston failed to win a single game. O'Brien also served as the general manager for two years and that helped lead to his downfall with the organization.
Romeo Crennel
After Bill O'Brien was fired early in the 2020 season, Romeo Crennel was hired as the interim head coach. Crennel was the Texans defensive coordinator during O'Brien's entire tenure so it made sense to put him in this role. That being said, he hadn't been a stellar head coach in any of his previous attempts so, as expected, the Texans weren't very good and finished with just four wins on the season.
David Culley
When the Texans hired David Culley to be their sixth head coach in franchise history in 2021, there was a lot of "Huh?" reactions and deservedly so. With names like Eric Bieniemy on the market, it felt strange to see the Texans go with a guy who really wasn't a big name on the head coach market.
In just one season as the head coach, Culley led the Texans to a 4-13 season and was fired at the end of the year. While it wasn't surprising seeing the Texans struggle in 2021, it'd have been hard for any head coach to come in and lead that team to more than a handful of wins. It didn't feel as though Culley got a fair shake at keeping the job but the team did what it felt was best for the direction of the franchise.
Lovie Smith
For the second straight year, the Texans were searching for a new head coach and ultimately settled on Lovie Smith. Like the Culley hire, Smith seemed like a surprising head coach hire for the Texans. Sure, he was their defensive coordinator in 2021, and promoting an in-house name is a common move for teams but it never really seemed like Smith was in the running for the job until he was named the head coach.
The Texans had another miserable season in 2022, winning just three games and firing Smith when the season came to an end. A lot of people were irritated that the team won the final game of the season, bumping them from landing the number one pick to now securing the second overall pick. That ended up working out well for them but it was just yet another head scratching moment from the Lovie Smith era.
DeMeco Ryans
2023 marked the third straight year that the Texans were in the process of searching for a new head coach and they needed to get it right this time. While it's only been one year of the DeMeco Ryans project, they didn't have to find a new head coach for a fourth straight year, so that's a step in the right direction.
All jokes aside, Ryans proved to be the right guy for the job in 2023. He helped lead a Texans team with a rookie quarterback to a division title and a playoff win, the Texans' first playoff win since the Bill O'Brien era. As is the case with any head coach, time will tell how Ryans' tenure with the team shakes out but Year 1 was successful and now fans are hoping to see the Texans build on that.
More must-reads:
- Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
- Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice
Defense ruled the day during the joint practice between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots defense did a masterful job of disrupting Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Wednesday's practice. However, New England's offensive line was unable to allow Drake Maye to have enough time to finish plays. "Even with four new expected starters up front following last year’s debacle, Wednesday suggested that there will likely be some bumps ahead for this offensive line," Graff wrote. "Sure, going up against the Vikings was always going to be a difficult task. Greenard has been wrecking his own team’s practices in training camp, and everyone in New England knows how good Flores’ scheme can be. But the domination was so thorough by the Vikings’ front seven that three straight plays at one point would’ve resulted in a sack." Maye showed flashes of promise when he had time to throw downfield or was able to use his legs to buy time or scramble when pressure came. The concern is that the offensive line won't allow Maye enough time to even scramble, so he can make throws. Graff has noticed the same issues that happened on Wednesday have been a constant at training camp against the Patriots defense. With a new-look offensive line that includes first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle, the Patriots are expected to have some bumps at training camp and in September. New England's offense probably won't look great out of the gate while the offensive line develops in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme. If and when the offensive line improves, Maye will have a chance to show off the arm that made him the No. 3 pick in 2024. For now, the offensive line is a concern much like it was last season.
NASCAR makes decision on victory celebrations after Connor Zilisch fall
One of NASCAR's brightest young stars in Connor Zilisch could miss time after falling in Victory Lane following his victory in the Aug. 9 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen. Zilisch slipped on the door of his No. 88 Chevrolet before suffering a hard fall in Victory Lane and breaking his collarbone. He underwent successful surgery on Tuesday, with a timetable for his return yet to be announced. Even in light of the viral incident, NASCAR will not restrict drivers from celebrating in a certain way moving forward, per NASCAR's Mike Forde. Drivers have long climbed on the roof or door of their vehicles on the frontstretch and in Victory Lane to celebrate victories, but accidents stemming from that action are rare. After winning the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen on Aug. 10, Shane van Gisbergen — who will likely be Zilisch's Cup Series teammate at Trackhouse Racing in 2026 — carefully climbed out of his No. 88 Chevrolet — something he does regularly, not just in response to Zilisch's fall. Zilisch did not race in the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen due to his injury. The Xfinity Series will return on Aug. 22 at Daytona International Speedway, with Zilisch leading the regular-season standings by seven points.
Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports
Second-year Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and other starters were spectators for Chicago's preseason opener versus the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed things will be different when his club hosts the Buffalo Bills for an exhibition matchup this coming Sunday evening. "Everyone's going to play," Johnson said, as shared by Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson added that how many snaps Williams will take versus the Bills is "to be determined." The Bears will first host the Bills for a joint practice on Friday. Johnson came to this decision following multiple reports detailing the supposed struggles that Williams has endured throughout training camp. Most recently, Monday’s practice was allegedly "a low point for" Chicago's first-team offense and featured "Williams and receiver Rome Odunze both looking frustrated" after some failed connections. "I've been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get [Williams] up to speed," Johnson explained. "And by the plan that we had a week ago, we were able to get him probably somewhere between 80 and 100 more reps than we would've been able to do had he played in the game. This week, it's a different schedule. Different length of time in terms of in between games and all that. And so, our plan right now is the guys that sat out last week, they will be playing this week." Those running the Bears hope that the hiring of Johnson, an advertised offensive guru, will help Williams become a top-tier quarterback after the 23-year-old won only five of 17 starts during his rookie season. However, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic is among those who have mentioned that Williams has been responsible for a noteworthy number of inaccurate passes this summer. "I think the trust that we've been talking about from the get-go, that's really where that comes into play," Johnson added about risking the health of his starters by playing them against Buffalo. "We haven't been here with this group as a coaching staff. That trust has been earning, and we've been developing that amongst each other. It's not a one-way street. It goes both ways. And so I think that's just another step in the progression, you know?" The Bears will wrap up the preseason with a game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22. It's unclear if Williams or other Chicago starters will see any action that Friday night.
Browns HC sends message to Myles Garrett after latest speeding incident
Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett became the subject of headlines when it was learned that he was cited for driving 100 mph in a 60 mph zone on an interstate in a Cleveland suburb several hours after the Browns opened the preseason with a 30-10 win at the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. While speaking with reporters ahead of the club's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday morning, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski sent a clear message regarding his feelings about Garrett's latest speeding incident. "Coming from a team leader, extremely disappointing," Stefanski said about Garrett, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. "It's been addressed with Myles -- with the football team. He needs to slow down for his safety and the safety of others." Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer mentioned that Garrett has had at least eight speeding citations in Northeast Ohio since Cleveland made him the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. Back in the fall of 2022, Garrett missed a game after he was involved in a single-car accident following a team practice. The Ohio State Highway Patrol ultimately issued Garrett a citation following that crash after it was determined he was using an "unsafe speed for the type of roadway being traveled." Cabot added that Stefanski declined to say if Garrett will be disciplined this summer. Earlier in the week, Cabot wrote that Garrett could "be fined for conduct detrimental to the team." Back in early February, Garrett requested a trade from the Browns coming off the club's 3-14 season. However, he later accepted a four-year, $160M contract extension that included $123.5M guaranteed to stay with the organization. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam revealed during the NFL owners meetings in the spring that he had "challenged" Garrett "to become a real leader of the team." Haslam made that comment after a March report shared that it's "well known within the Browns that Garrett is frequently late to the facility" and "has skipped mandatory team activities on multiple occasions." It remains to be seen how the 29-year-old will respond to Stefanski's comments about an incident that occurred after Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was cited for speeding twice in June.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
