Bryant head coach James Perry has a sibling who works on the Texans’ staff
FOXBORO — Bryant football head coach James Perry wanted in the worst way to be at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, and with good reason. His older brother John coaches the receivers for the Houston Texans.
Alas, duty called. While New England and Houston squared off under conditions more suitable for a July day at the beach, James was in the Bryant football office watching film from Saturday’s wild 45-40 win over Fordham and getting a jump-start on preparing for this coming Saturday’s contest at New Hampshire.
“I’ll try to follow online and watch a little bit,” James Perry said.
The first-year Bulldogs coach did have family representation at Gillette, as wife Abby and sons Samuel and Nathaniel were present. On this day, the Perrys’ allegiances squarely rested in Houston’s camp. After the final whistle, they’ll go back to rooting for the hometown Patriots.
“They’ll have their Texans gear on,” James Perry said.
John Perry is now in his fourth season as an NFL coach, all of them coming with the Texans. This is his first year coaching the team’s wide receivers after mentoring the tight ends. Houston came close to notching its first-ever win in Foxboro, but Tom Brady’s fifth touchdown pass saved the day in a 36-33 win for New England.
Naturally, James Perry credits John as one of his top coaching influences. When John was the offensive coordinator at Dartmouth in 2001, James served as a volunteer. At that point in his life, James was one year removed from capping off a record-setting college football career at Brown University.
James and John Perry are two of seven siblings, with James holding the distinction as the youngest of the Perry children. When James stared at Malden (Mass.) Catholic High School, he was coached by eldest brother E.J., who nowadays is the head football, girls’ basketball and boys’ volleyball coach at Andover High.
James Perry shares a special bond with all his kinfolk. Yet, when one of your brothers oversees a position group in the NFL, it’s akin to found money for someone who’s also in the football coaching profession. John Perry made eight coaching stops on the college circuit prior to joining the Texans in 2014.
“We’re a very close, tight-knit group in general and can all swap stories, but John and I talk regularly,” James Perry said. “I can always count on him to give me critical advice whenever he gets a hold of my film.
“He’s a very intense guy who loves football,” the Bryant mentor added. “He’s the type of guy who after putting in a 14-hour day can go home and if I send him a clip of my film, he wouldn’t hesitate.”
The past few years, James Perry has ventured to Houston to take in a Texans practice and sit in on a film session. If the opportunity to grow and improve your coaching acumen is readily available, why not take full advantage of it?
“I’ve been very proactive about that,” James Perry said.
Perry was on the job at Bryant for a week and a half when Houston came to New England this past January for an AFC Divisional Playoff contest. He was at Gillette Stadium that night to root on his big brother. Fast-forward to Sunday, where the demanding nature of a college head coaching job prevented him from spending the afternoon as an in-person supporter of John and the Texans.
No doubt, James and John Perry found some time to touch base with one another before John returned to the Lone Star State.
“The whole family is proud of John, but we’re not surprised. He’s always been an incredibly hard worker,” James Perry said.