Josh

McCown

A first-time NFL coach on Frank Reich’s Panthers staff last season, McCown was part of owner David Tepper’s mid-season scapegoating for his awful roster. The 44-year-old was let go Nov. 27. He has landed in a far better offense and coaching tree, saddling up alongside Sean McVay disciple Kevin O’Connell, who has quickly proven to be an excellent coach in his own right. Especially if impending free agent Kirk Cousins re-signs, it will be a spot where McCown can continue climbing the NFL coaching ladder.

McCown’s dismissal appeared imminent after the Panthers cut ties with head coach Frank Reich earlier in the day. Tasked with developing quarterback Bryce Young, McCown’s early efforts with the No. 1 overall pick have fallen short, as the Panthers are 1-10 and Young looks like the worst of the three quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. McCown was once interviewed for the Texans’ head coaching vacancy back in 2022, but ultimately didn’t secure the job. His job with the Panthers marked McCown’s first NFL coaching job. He’ll likely get additional opportunities down the line if he hopes to continue his coaching career, but his days in Carolina are now done. In addition to McCown, the Panthers also fired assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley.

McCown had recently been in the running for the then-vacant Texans head coaching position before the franchise hired DeMeco Ryans. The former quarterback lands his first stint as a coach in the NFL as he’s set to serve as the quarterbacks coach under new hire Frank Reich in Carolina.

This came off the heels of Schefter reporting that Houston defensive coordinator Lovie Smith is now in the running for their head-coaching vacancy. McCown’s spot among the finalists for the Houston gig was always strange as he has no coaching experience beyond some work at his sons’ high school. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him brought in as a positions coach in the near future but his lack of experience was too much for even the hapless Houston brass to look past.

Josina Anderson additionally reported that the Texans have spent the last 48 hours “vetting the staffing plans” for their finalists. Flores would probably be the most inspiring hire of the bunch, but it would be surprising if a man suing the NFL became Houston’s head coach. Josh McCown appears to be the favorite.

Houston officially reported the completion of their second interviews with Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon and former Dolphins HC Brian Flores as well. McCown got an interview for Houston’s head-coaching vacancy last year but was ultimately passed over for David Culley. After spending another year as an assistant coach at his sons’ high school, the Texans may now see him as fit to lead an NFL team. Though Flores has strong connections to Houston management, McCown remains firmly in the mix, as bizarre as it sounds.

The Texans have been infatuated with making McCown a thing since randomly interviewing him (while he was still under contract as their practice-squad quarterback) for their head-coaching vacancy last year, running it back during this cycle with the same blinders on. Given Houston’s lack of direction under Jack Easterby and Nick Caserio, it would not be shocking in the slightest if McCown, 42, is named David Culley’s successor. Luckily the barbeque in Houston is more palatable than its football operations.

This is a transparent attempt to legitimize McCown -- a longtime journeyman NFL quarterback with zero college or pro coaching experience -- as a head coaching candidate for Houston. ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio suggested Friday that “some in the media possibly have been enlisted to spin the notion that [hiring McCown as head coach] is not as crazy as it sounds.” The Texans interviewed McCown for their head coaching job last offseason and have again expressed interest after firing David Culley last week. No one should be surprised if Texans vice president of football operations Jack Easterby -- perhaps the worst executive in professional sports -- manages to get McCown, 42, hired as Houston’s next head coach.

McCown is technically a free agent, as it does not appear he ever officially retired after the Texans released him last March. McCown’s 2021 release came after the Texans interviewed him to replace Bill O’Brien, so this is McCown’s second Texans head-coaching talk in as many years. He clearly has fans in the front office. Although the 42-year-old was lauded for his leadership throughout his nearly two decades in the league, he would be an extraordinarily risky hire. He has never coached above the high school level. We hope the Texans know what they’re doing (they don’t). Our in-house Texans expert Rivers McCown had been predicting this interview for weeks.

He’s expected to immediately pursue a career in coaching, likely landing back in Houston after the organization (comically) interviewed him for its head-coaching vacancy before formally hiring David Culley. With Tim Kelly still hanging on to his OC role, McCown could easily be groomed under the former while taking on the title of Assistant Head Coach. As always, nothing is off the table when it comes to the Texans.