O’Brien expects that he’ll be back next year
With each defeat comes more speculation about Texans coach Bill O’Brien’s job security.
O’Brien made it clear Monday — one day after the 26-16 loss to San Francisco at NRG Stadium — he wants to return for his fifth season as the Texans’ coach.
While answering questions about the Tom Savage concussion controversy, O’Brien was asked if he wants to be back.
“Sure,” he said. “I enjoy being the head coach of the Houston Texans. I have a great relationship with these players. I’m going to continue to coach hard until they tell me I’m not coaching here anymore.
“I signed a five-year contract. I expect to be back, but these decisions aren’t made by me. I don’t have any control over those things. All I can control is
how I coach the team and how I work with the staff and the people around here, and that’s what I try to do.”
As criticism from fans and media increases and they demand that O’Brien pay for the 4-9 record with his job, this much I’m sure of: If Bob McNair fires O’Brien after the season, he’ll have another head coaching job before sunset.
O’Brien and his staff get a lot of respect around the NFL. If McNair elects to make a change — and I don’t believe he will — O’Brien would have no problem getting another job.
McNair has been one of the NFL’s most patient owners. His first two coaches, Dom Capers and Gary Kubiak, were fired when the Texans finished 2-14.
First losing season
Losing to the 49ers guaranteed the Texans of their first losing record under O’Brien, who was 9-7 in each of his first three seasons, including AFC South titles the last two years.
McNair watched O’Brien deal with Hurricane Harvey and racism issues, including the onegame protest at Seattle.
McNair understands the injuries the team has suffered. He watched the Texans average 34 points a game in rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson’s six starts, including 39 in his last five starts before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
McNair is well aware the Texans averaged 40.5 points in the four games Watson played with receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.
When the Texans play at Jacksonville on Sunday, T.J. Yates will be their third starting quarterback because of injuries. They’ve started five left tackles and lost four defensive starters for the season, including end J.J. Watt and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus.
O’Brien had to deal with left tackle Duane Brown’s holdout and trade, and inside linebacker Brian Cushing’s 10-game suspension.
“My family and I, we love living here,” O’Brien said. “And I enjoy coaching these players, and I enjoy coaching with this staff.”
O’Brien and his coaches get their players to play hard. Whether it’s losses at Baltimore and Tennessee or at home to San Francisco, the Texans have managed to stay in games before collapsing.
One reason players play hard for O’Brien is because they respect him.
After Watson saw where O’Brien was answering questions Monday about his job security, he tweeted “& I want OB with me!”
Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney defended O’Brien after the San Francisco loss.
Ask just about any player about O’Brien, and they’ll come to their coach’s defense.
“My job is to make sure I coach these players,” O’Brien said. “I really care about these players.”
‘It’s tough’
The injury-depleted roster resembles a carousel as players come and go because of injuries, including six lost to concussions in the last two games.
“It’s tough,” O’Brien said. “These guys are putting in a lot of hours. They’re trying to prepare. Guys are banged up. But our guys will show up. It’s not easy.
“You just have to keep battling. You have no other choice. Your choice is you don’t have any choice. You’re going to show up, go to work and try to improve.
“I really care about how hard they’re working and the effort they’re putting in. We’re not seeing the results on the field, and so I really want to try to improve that over the next three weeks.”
Which is going to be extremely difficult. The Texans visit Jacksonville and host Pittsburgh, two division leaders. They close with a game at Indianapolis that’ll probably establish who plays the last-place schedule in 2018.