David

Culley

Rapoport said the team wanted Culley to commit to major changes on the offensive side of the ball. Culley balked, and the team fired him after one season at the helm. The Texans also fired offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. There were other areas of concern for the Texans, including Culley’s in-game decision making and team disciplinary issues, according to Rapoport. The Texans could take a close look at Jerod Mayo, the former New England linebacker and current Patriots defensive assistant with close ties to Houston GM Nick Caserio.

The league’s most dysfunctional organization — by a long shot — needed four days to decide if it wanted to make 66-year-old Culley one-and-done in Houston. Culley’s hiring was widely first guessed due to his age and having never been an NFL coordinator, but he wildly overachieved his nonexistent expectations to put a competitive team on the field more weeks than not. Although frightfully conservative, the Texans were well organized and motivated. Now they will head back to a coaching market where GM/ex-Patriot Nick Caserio will undoubtedly be gunning for one of his former co-workers. The Josh McDaniel rumors will be running rampant the next 48 hours. Although he is closer to retirement than a long stint on someone else’s sideline, Culley will generate interest as an assistant head coach. The Texans are a laughingstock.

Ongoing decisions following Black Monday are usually a sign that the coach’s fate has already been determined. Howe’s sources also align with Jay Glazer’s recent report that the Texans could be “one-and-done” with Culley. Having set the latter up to fail in year one of the organization’s rebuild sans Deshaun Watson, it would be an embarrassment albeit par for the course if Houston forced Culley to fall on the sword for Jack Easterby and Nick Caserio. The duo’s cronyism will inevitably lead to the Texans interviewing Patriots OC Josh McDaniels the moment New England’s season comes to a close.

Welp, there’s not really a whole lot that Culley could have done to change minds if this season isn’t enough for management. Glazer added that the Texans “like Josh McDaniels as well,” which is perhaps the most unsurprising news of the entire report as they’d pair him with former Patriots Jack Easterby and Nick Caserio. Most of the reports had been trending in the direction of Culley being retained, so this qualifies as a Black Sunday/Monday surprise.

Glazer says that “it’s not a definite” but states that Culley could be gone after just one year in Houston. He went on to report that the Texans are interested in longtime Patriots OC Josh McDaniels. The hapless Texans have only four wins heading into Week 18, but that’s understandable given the state of their roster. It seems like Culley could very well be back for a second year in H-Town, but his seat isn’t safe at the moment.

With Culley reportedly returning for a second season as Houston’s head coach, it looks like the Texans are keeping the sad band together for 2022. Though Kelly hasn’t had much to work with this year, the Texans are dead last in yards per game and 30th in points per game. Davis Mills has made an impressive late-season showing that offers some hope for a functional Houston offense in 2022, but the team will need a massive influx in skill position talent if they’re going to be competitive. Mills, who has six touchdowns to two interceptions over his past four starts, talked this week about the importance of offensive continuity going into next season.

“Barring an unforeseen turn of events, the Texans are expected to finalize that decision next week,” Howe reported. The 66-year-old’s hiring was widely first guessed last winter. He had never coordinated an offense or defense at any level and was perceived as primarily a CEO caretaker who would “wear” the Texans’ arduous rebuild. Instead his team has overachieved for the majority of the year, third-round rookie Davis Mills has out-produced most of his first-round compatriots, and the Texans have overcome severe talent deficiencies to play decent defense. Culley’s squads have been well organized. He may ultimately still prove to be a bridge coach whose main accomplishment is preventing the organization from outright embarrassing itself, but Culley has absolutely earned another year.

It’s not exactly the most jarring non-comment considering the sad state of the franchise and the uncertain future of everyone in the Texans organization. Culley, 65, a long-time assistant coach who stunningly got the job last January, has next to no chance of returning for a second year as head coach. Houston is dead last in yards per game and points per game, while giving up the third most points per game. It’s hardly Culley’s fault: Houston is the least talented team in the NFL, with some starters who would be practice squad players with most teams. With little hope for a quick turnaround, the franchise will likely be mired in a years-long rebuild that will not include Culley.

Culley, who has never called plays at any level, will be charged with managing the aftermath of a comically disastrous run for the Texans organization. Culley (very) likely won’t get a chance to coach Deshaun Watson, who has requested a trade, and will have to deal with seemingly disillusioned superstar JJ Watt. Meanwhile, Will Fuller is a free agent and will certainly receive attention from several teams in the coming months. Brandin Cooks is signed through 2023 and David Johnson is signed through 2021. We could see significant turnover in Houston over the next year.

Houston Chronicle’s John McClain had it first. Culley’s hiring comes out of nowhere. The 65-year-old assistant has been in the NFL since 1994, yet has never called plays. His tenure as a positional coach includes being the WR coach for a Chiefs offense that scored zero WR touchdowns, being the QB coach for Josh Allen’s 10/12 TD/INT rookie season, and being the passing-game coordinator of the Ravens most recently. That plays into why Culley has never interviewed for a head coaching job outside of this one time in Houston. The attention immediately turns to how Deshaun Watson views Culley, who becomes the second minority coach to be hired this cycle. Watson wanted Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy to be considered, but he never seemed to be a serious candidate to Jack Easterby, GM Nick Caserio, and Cal McNair. Houston remains the epicenter of NFL drama heading into the offseason. Culley will have his hands full right away with the media, with his franchise quarterback, and with filling out a coaching staff. He’s a respected leader within NFL circles, so perhaps he has success in a CEO-like role. Not every head coach needs to be the next offensive genius after all, and he may be able to relate to Watson.