Firing of Culley shows Texans’ shift in priorities
McNair backs general manager as focus turns to results over process
David Culley personified a Texans season defined by its process. He was a first-time NFL head coach whose strongest quality was a consistent personality that briefly brought stability to a rebuilding franchise undergoing massive change. His lack of experience was known upon his arrival less than a year ago, yet after Houston’s predictably poor season ended, the officials who hired him spent four days determining whether he was fit for the future.
The Texans’ decision to fire Culley after one season arrived Thursday. He is the first oneand-done head coach in the franchise’s 20-year history, an action general manager Nick Caserio admitted was “unusual” but said was taken because of “philosophical differences” over the team’s “long-term direction and vision.”
Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair reinforced his “complete confidence” in the firstyear general manager and said it was Caserio who “believed it was necessary” to fire Culley.
“I’m disappointed,” Culley said. “I’ve been in this league long enough to know this is a business. I understand this is a part of that business.”
Culley was the only Black head coach hired during last offseason’s cycle, and his firing leaves the NFL with only one Black head coach — Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin. Miami fired Brian Flores this week.
The Texans’ decision to move away from Culley represents a shift in priorities. A winning season was not expected for the team in 2021. That an overhauled roster composed mostly of affordable veterans on one-year deals and rookies managed to win four games — including upsets over the Titans and Chargers — revealed that Culley fulfilled the baseline expectations Texans leadership underlined when it made him the NFL’s old
est first-time head coach at 65.
When Culley was introduced last January, McNair said Culley’s “ability to bring people together made it obvious to us that he is our guy.” Caserio emphasized the coaching tree Culley learned from in 43 years as an assistant coach in the college and professional ranks and how, throughout the interview process, people repeatedly mentioned Culley’s “positive energy,” his belief in “servant leadership,” and how he “conducts himself in a way that brings out the best in others.”
“Perhaps the greatest quality David possesses,” Caserio said then, “is his ability to connect with people and the approach with which he motivates them each and every day.”
Players who voiced support for Culley’s retention since Sunday’s 28-25 season-ending loss to the Titans gave testimonies about their former head coach that referenced why those qualities mattered.
A tumultuous 2020 season in which former head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien was fired after just four games was followed by an offseason regime change, the exodus of franchise giants like former defensive end J.J. Watt, a trade demand by star quarterback Deshaun Watson, and a summer dominated by the emergence of 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and harassment against Watson.
By the time training camp began, the Texans had 31 new players on the 53-man active roster, including 22 signed to one-year deals. Caserio said in a December interview with Sports Radio 610 that he knew rebuilding the Texans would be a “massive undertaking.” The roster was transitioning at an extreme pace, and it needed someone who embodied stability.
“The situation we had here in Houston wouldn’t have been easy for anybody,” starting center Justin Britt said. “I feel like (Culley’s) leadership was consistent and who he was was consistent, and that’s what we needed here as a leader, someone to run this team.”
But Culley possessed neither schematic prowess nor mastery of game management situations. McNair, Caserio and executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby knew this when they hired him. He’d never been a head coach at any level. He’d never been a full-time coordinator in the NFL.
Since Culley did not call offensive or defensive plays, his ingame blunders provide the bulk of evidence for why the Texans are pursuing another head coach to lead the team in the next phase of the rebuild.
Against the Browns in Week 2, Culley declined a penalty that would have given the Texans an extra play, instead punting on fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 49. Against the Patriots in Week 5, with the score tied and the Texans out of timeouts with 1:52 remaining, Culley flubbed a chance to give his offense more time by accepting an illegal shift penalty that negated a New England touchdown. The Patriots ran the clock to 17 seconds, kicked a chip-shot field goal and won.
Culley was transparent about his mistakes. He detailed how he spent Saturday mornings drilling in-game situations with former NFL head coach Romeo Crennel and two scouts. Crennel and Caserio were both on the headset advising Culley in game-day situations on Sundays, and when they advised him to let the Patriots score in Week 5, Culley said “it didn’t compute to me at that time.”
Culley was also insistent, borderline obstinate, that the Texans use a run-oriented philosophy on offense. Houston’s run game, which finished the 2021 season with the fewest rushing yards per game (83.6) in franchise history, was repeatedly inefficient no matter who was in the backfield.
This was perhaps most pronounced in the regular-season finale against the Titans when the Texans were averaging 1.1 yards per carry in the first half with three rushes for negative yards. Then, trailing 21-0 at halftime, Culley said he told offensive coordinator Tim Kelly to adjust to a more up-tempo, pass-first style. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills was 16of-19 for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the second half and pulled the Texans within the brink of an upset.
That such an adjustment didn’t happen until the 17th and final game strongly suggests it was too long delayed. Culley said Monday “there were times that I should have used tempo in some of these other ballgames.” Still, Culley said he expected himself, Kelly and his coaching staff to be retained. Kelly also was fired Thursday.
By parting with Culley, the Texans are signaling the desire to hire a head coach who has a stronger command of strategy and tactics. Caserio is expected to overhaul the roster again this offseason, and whoever the Texans hire will be tasked with developing a team expected to be younger next season.
Some limitations exist in free agency with a salary cap that ranks 15th in the NFL (diminished by a league-leading $35.4 million in dead money), but the Texans will have a full slate of draft picks for the first time since 2019. Caserio could also acquire additional draft capital if potential trades involving Watson and left tackle Laremy Tunsil come to pass.
Caserio, whose lexicon reflects his master’s degree in business, is taking a calculated risk with his own career. General managers don’t often get to hire more than two head coaches. Caserio signed a six-year contract, but Culley was fired one season after signing a four-year deal.
Caserio said in training camp that the 2021 season would be more “process oriented” than “results oriented.” With Culley’s firing, the next coach, as well as Caserio, will be more defined by results.
But Houston’s roster transition is still operating at an extreme pace. Leading wide receiver Brandin Cooks said the Texans “absolutely” still need a message stressing the need for consistency.
“I think that message is set going into this offseason,” Cooks said. “It’s not a time to take a break and try and turn it back on when you get back in here. You try to build on that this offseason and individual workouts and trying to get better as a player, so when you do come back, you can pick up where you left off.”