The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Texans elevate former Bears, Bucs coach Smith to top job
The Houston Texans hired Lovie Smith as their new head coach, adding a veteran with a track record of success to a team that faces questions about its hiring process.
Smith is the second minority candidate hired as a head coach this offseason after the Miami Dolphins hired San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Mcdaniel, who is biracial, on Sunday.
Smith spent last season as Houston’s associate head coach and defensive coordinator. He will take over for David Culley, who is also Black, and was fired after one season. Houston interviewed multiple candidates over the past few weeks, including Brian Flores, Hines Ward, Josh Mccown and Joe Lombardi.
Flores was fired despite posting winning records in the final two of his three seasons in Miami.
Flores, who is Black, sued the NFL, the Dolphins and two other teams last week over alleged racist hiring practices for coaches and general managers.
Flores issued a statement through his legal team applauding the Texans for hiring a Black man, but questioning why he wasn’t offered the job. “It is obvious that the only reason Mr. Flores was not selected was his decision to stand up against racial inequality,” the statement said.
The Texans had been criticized by some for considering Mccown for the position since the 42-yearold former NFL quarterback has never coached at any level aside from volunteering with his son’s high school team. The Texans raved about the qualities Smith brings to the team.
“He is one of the most respected coaches in the NFL and an established leader,” Houston GM Nick Caserio said in a statement.
The 63-year-old Smith joined the Texans last offseason. This will be the third NFL head coaching job for Smith, who coached the Chicago Bears for nine seasons and coached Tampa Bay for two seasons ending in 2015.
Now he takes over a team in the process of a complete rebuild. The Texans went 4-13 last season.
Saints reportedly promote Allen to replace Payton
Dennis Allen is getting a second chance to be an NFL head coach — this time with a Saints franchise he helped transform into a regular contender during the 16-year tenure of his former boss, Sean Payton.
The Saints have promoted Allen from defensive coordinator to head coach, two people familiar with the decision said on condition of anonymity because the Saints have not announced their chosen replacement for Payton, who resigned last month.
The Saints chose to promote from within after also interviewing outside candidates, including Flores, Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Allen, 49, is in his second stint with the Saints. He took over as defensive coordinator late in the 2015 season. The Saints have ranked in the top seven in the NFL defensively during the past two seasons.