Bobby

Slowik

While he was a hot name for head coaching positions, Slowik has decided to stay as the Texans’ offensive coordinator. The 36-year-old helped develop C.J. Stroud throughout his impressive rookie season, building a strong Texans offense that led to a playoff berth. Slowik is set to receive a raise with his new deal as he enters his second year with the Texans. Stroud, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell all stand to benefit from Slowik staying in Houston.

Slowik’s second interview with the Falcons was of the in-person variety, as Houston’s offensive play-caller continues to gain steam in this year’s coaching search. According to a report from NFL Network’s James Palmer earlier this week, Slowik left the Falcons “very impressed” after his first interview, which in itself is impressive for the 36-year-old coach. PFF Bobby helped lead C.J. Stroud to one of the most impressive rookie seasons we’ve seen from a quarterback in recent years and helped coach the Texans into the 13th-ranked offense in his first season. With Bill Belichick reportedly not being viewed as the Falcons’ top candidate, it’s possible Slowik could emerge as the odds-on favorite to land the gig.

NFL Network’s James Palmer reports Falcons brass was “very impressed” by Slowik, coming off his first year as Houston’s OC and working with probable rookie of the year C.J. Stroud. The Falcons, who seemed primed to hire Bill Belichick as head coach, are now exploring a range of options. Slowik also has an in-person interview with the Commanders, whose head coaching search has been exhaustive. Slowik’s Texans offense finished 2023 with the 15th highest EPA per play and the seventh worst success rate.

The Texans will be one the road against the Ravens on Saturday afternoon and then, regardless of outcome, Slowik will conduct three virtual interviews the next day. He has already interviewed for the head coach openings with the Titans and Panthers, so he has step-for-step with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the most sought-after candidate on the market. While Slowik has done tremendous work with the Texans offense, 2023 was his first and only season as an NFL coordinator, so there is a question of whether or not he’s ready to make a big jump to head coach.

The Titans join the Panthers in announcing a Thursday interview with one of the NFL’s most sought after assistants. With teams trying to ride C.J. Stroud’s (likely) OROY coattails and get in on the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, Slowik has drawn interest from nearly every coach-needy team. Just 36 years old with one year of NFL coordinating experience, it’s an open question whether Slowik is actually ready to lead a team. It would be especially risky somewhere where the future quarterback is not already in place, and we doubt the Titans consider Will Levis their locked-in 3-4 year starter.

The virtual interview was conducted Thursday as Slowik prepares for the Divisional Round against the Ravens. The Panthers evidently saw what Slowik did for C.J. Stroud and want the same thing for Bryce Young. The problem, of course, is what Stroud did for Slowik and the likely impossibility Slowik could have the same success with Young. He is still nevertheless the exact kind of candidate Carolina should be interviewing as it looks to escape its David Tepper doldrums.

The Panthers, Titans and Commanders have also requested permission to speak with C.J. Stroud’s coordinator. 36-year-old Slowik has had an amazing first year as Texans play-caller, though he’s also had the good fortune to have Stroud executing his plays. A longtime Kyle Shanahan disciple, Slowik is absolutely the kind of coach teams should be seeking if they are interested in hiring an “offensive mind.”

One of the youngest offensive coordinators in the game, PFF Bobby’s efforts with the Texans in his first season have already caught the attention of other organizations. The Titans join the Commanders as teams interested in sitting down with the 36-year-old offensive mastermind, giving him multiple chances at securing a head coaching job after just one year as offensive coordinator. As the league continues to make a shift toward younger, more innovative play-callers, Slowik should continue to gain steam even if he’s passed on during this coaching cycle.

Slowik, another disciple of the Gary Kubiak coaching tree, coached the Texans to 22.2 points per game in his first season with the team, all the while working with a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud. Washington has thus far been focused on offensive minded coaches to fill their head coach vacancy, something that could indicate where the new ownership’s desires lie moving forward.

Slowik will now follow head coach DeMeco Ryans to Houston after working with him for six straight seasons in San Francisco. Both Slowik and Ryans began their time with the 49ers as defensive quality control coaches, with Slowik officially moving to the offensive side of the ball at the start 2019. Slowik has been closely tied to the Texans since their hiring of Ryans, and will now get a chance to bring his own variation of Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme to the rebuilding franchise in Ryans’ first season.