Culley’s people skills stand out
Old colleagues, including Kubiak, praise franchise’s coaching choice
Gary Kubiak gained a friend along with a wealth of knowledge while working with David Culley on the Texas A&M coaching staff.
Previously the Baltimore Ravens’ assistant head coach/receivers coach/passing game coordinator, Culley, 65, is on the verge of being named the fourth coach in Texans history Thursday after an extremely impressive day-long interview in Houston on Wednesday that culminated with the franchise choosing him over Buffalo Bills assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
When Kubiak retired as an NFL player, he became the Aggies’ running backs coach. It was in College Station where he connected with Culley as Kubiak launched a coaching career that earned him four Super Bowl rings.
“David kind of took me under his wing and taught me a lot about coaching and dealing with players and how to recruit a little bit, which I didn’t know much about at first,” said Kubiak, the former Texans head coach who retired last week from his job as the Minnesota Vikings’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. “I leaned on David as a friend and a confidant when I got started. We got really close. David and I became good friends, and he’s a wonderful human being, a class act. He’s been doing it a long time at a high level.”
Culley interviewed for the second time Wednesday with Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio, giving a thorough, detailed presentation that convinced them he should be the next head coach despite his never having been an offensive coordinator. Culley’s path is similar to other first-time head coaches who were previously position coaches, including Ravens Super Bowlwinning coach John Harbaugh.
During the interview process, Culley broached the topic of not having previous coordinator experience like most head coaches and asked Caserio if that was a problem. Caserio told Culley he had no issues with that and was instead focused on his coaching skills and character, according to league sources.
“Energetic guy that has paid his dues,” an NFL source said. “Fits the culture the Texans and Cal want. This league erroneously thinks to be a head coach, one has to be a great coordinator first. It’s a dumb thought.”
Culley gave an “incredibly strong” presentation as he communicated his vision for the job and discussed his philosophy and staffing ideas.
“Happy for David,” an NFL source said. “A genuine, real good guy.”
During the interview process, Culley made a strong impression with his people skills, knowledge of the game and ability to connect with players. NFL colleagues have called Culley “rare” in his ability to gain a buy-in with players.
“This is great. I’m so excited for him. This is awesome,” former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. “He’ll do a great job. He is the kind of guy in the clubhouse that players want to play for. He’ll rally the guys around him.”
Culley, Frazier and former Lions and Colts coach Jim Caldwell, who also impressed the Texans throughout the process, were the only candidates to interview twice for the job, which has been open since the Texans fired Bill O’Brien following an 0-4 start. The Texans also interviewed Kansas Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, former Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady and new Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley.
A former Texas A&M receivers coach, Culley connected with Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s in a dispute with the team over a lack of input into the hiring process, while coaching him at the Pro Bowl last year with Baltimore’s coaching staff.
The Texans are working to repair their relationship with Watson.
The qualities that Harbaugh
and others have recognized in Culley, a former Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach, include his ability to build strong relationships with players, coach them hard and get them to understand his philosophy and strategies, along with his enthusiasm and positivity.“David is the energy in the building,” Kubiak said. “In coaching, we have all kind of personalities. There are guys running around like their hair is on fire, and some are more teachers and calm. David is a very energetic football coach. He relates to players extremely well. He has his way of bonding with them while also being very demanding of them.”
Culley was the Bills quarterback coach for Josh Allen’s rookie season and previously coached wide receivers for Andy Reid in Kansas City and Philadelphia. Culley is well-versed in several offensive systems, including Reid’s West Coast offense.
Culley is a part of the Ravens’
multidimensional offense headlined by star quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens led the NFL in scoring in 2019 (33.2 points per game) and ranked seventh this season (29.3). Culley coached wide receivers Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin, Devin Duvernay and James Proche.
“When you look at David, he’s been through several systems and is so knowledgeable,” Kubiak said. “In Baltimore, with a young man with Lamar’s talents, and he’s so tremendous … when you look at the way the Ravens have chosen to move the ball, adjusting with your players — the most important thing as a coach (is) relating to your players and adjusting to what your strengths are.”
As much as his coaching acumen, Culley gets high marks for his people skills. Slocum recounted the impact Culley had on the entire program in College Station.
“David brings so much to the table,” Slocum said. “What happens in coaching, you get different personalities and different egos. Some guys are knowledgeable coaches, but they’re hard to deal with and bring out the worst in people. Other guys like David are like vitamins. They make your whole organization healthier and more positive.”
Several NFL colleagues who have worked with Culley emphasized that he has the swagger and genuine nature to relate to players decades younger than him.
“You’ve got to have relationships with these guys,” Kubiak said. “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. You have to maintain that respect factor, because you’re their coach. You have to get them ready, and you have to make hard decisions. They have to respect you as you do it.”