The Houston Texans are one of several teams that continue to search for their next head coach after David Culley went one-and-done. The usual suspects have popped up as potential candidates—former Miami Dolphins head Brian Flores and current Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon are among them. While many of the popular names, including Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll continue to make their rounds, the Texans' search has been quite unique in its nature. General manager Nick Caserio continues to cast the widest of nets in his search, which has already led to a few peculiar and unnatural candidates.
Florida Atlantic special assistant to the head coach and receivers coach Hines Ward, who is best known for his playing days as a Pittsburgh Steeler, received an interview last week. Ward, who previously interned with the Steelers and worked as an offensive assistant for the Jets in 2019, began truly embarking on his coaching journey when he popped up on Florida Atlantic's coaching staff just months ago. To witness Ward receive an interview to lead an NFL franchise this quickly qualifies as baffling and unusual, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to what came next.
Former NFL quarterback Josh McCown emerged as a wild-card entry into the Texans’ head coaching search last Thursday afternoon, interviewing for their vacancy for a second time in as many years in a piece of news that sent shockwaves through the football world. The 42-year-old McCown has the appearance and demeanor of a future head coach, but currently only possesses coaching "experience" at the high school level, where he coached quarterbacks for his sons’ team at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C.
The unexplainable can only be, well, explained and summarized with two words: Jack Easterby. Easterby, who's often portrayed as an evil, cartoon-like character, must be the driving force behind this hype train.
By all accounts, Easterby and McCown are close friends. McCown last played professionally for the Texans in 2020, after signing to their active roster in early November of that year, just one month after Easterby assumed interim general manager duties following the firing of Bill O'Brien. It’s not a coincidence. The relationship between Easterby and McCown blossomed from there, as McCown was often praised as an excellent teammate and father-like figure within their locker room. McCown landed his first of two head coaching interviews with Houston less than three months later. The situation progressed rapidly and continues to take shape today. Easterby, a known meddler possesses a grip on the franchise that is rather unfathomable, but it continues to seep into their decision-making process. It represents a real issue for all parties involved.
The situation and mutual interest between Easterby, McCown, and the Texans have reached an interesting boiling point to where the Texans are reportedly hoping that a second franchise will grant McCown an interview just so Easterby could justify the absolutely ridiculous hire he clearly wants to make.
McCown certainly possesses the makeup of a former player that may develop into a fine head coach someday. McCown's high football I.Q. paired with nearly two decades of playing experience and exceptional leadership skills profile nicely when making the leap from playing to coaching. McCown should certainly accumulate some, you know, actual coaching experience before we crown him the second coming of Bill Belichick. Perhaps as an offensive quality control assistant or quarterbacks coach before we hand him the keys to the franchise?
Leave it up to Easterby and cult-like Texans to forage into uncharted territory.
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