Nick Caserio made it abundantly clear. The Texans’ general manager strongly wished that he hadn’t had to reach a tough conclusion: recommending to chairman and CEO Cal McNair to fire head coach David Culley, an amiable football lifer, after one rocky season.
Yet, that’s what Caserio felt compelled to do after thoroughly reviewing the performance of Culley and the entire coaching staff and firing the career assistant and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly after a 4-13 season that was predicted to be even worse while finishing with the NFL’s last-ranked offense.
“Itwas a difficult decision, probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in my life on a personal level,” Caserio saidFriday morningduring a press conference at NRG Stadium. “But that’s the position that I was put in, and ultimately the McNairs have bestowed upon me the authority to do what I feel is best for the Texans organization. It’s not about one person. My responsibility is to everybody in this organization, the players, the staff, the coaches, to the front office, to business operations.
“This is about being grateful for what David did for this organization, what he provided for us, what he provided for us personally, what he provided for me personally. In the end, this is my decision. This was something that I felt that we needed to do that was in the best interest of the organization, so that’s why I sit here today.”
Caserio declined to elaborate on the philosophical differences he referenced when Culley was dismissed. Culley didn’t want to move on from Kelly despite an offense that averaged an NFL-low 84.6 rushing yards per contest. The Texans scored just 16.5 points per game to rank 30thin the league in scoring offense.
“Out of fairness, I think there’s a lot of things that go into it,” Caserio said. “ I think, just generally speaking, when you evaluate a team or go through an operation or an organization, you always have to be sort of open minded to change. At least entertaining change, not necessarily change just to change, but there has to be an impetus to change. Just if we move it over to a football perspective, look, our results are what the results are. There were certain areas, quite frankly, where we didn’t perform very well over the course multiple weeks.
“It wasn’t as if it was one week or one game. Going back to what I mentioned earlier, it’s about facing problems and finding solutions, and we need to do a better job of that, I need to do a better job of that. It’s not necessarily one specific thing. I think in the end, there was some differences about next steps or how we move forward, not necessarily rear-view mirror about what has happened. I think philosophically there were some things in the end that maybe we saw a little bit differently. So, that was really the impetus for the decision that was made.”
Culley, 66, had never been a head coach before at any level prior to being hired by the Texans.Culley was previously an assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and receivers coach for the Baltimore Ravens after stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs coaching receivers and the Buffalo Bills coaching quarterbacks.
"I'm disappointed, but it's part of the business," Culley said in a telephone interview after being fired. "I understand and I move on."
Culley will be paid the entire remaining portion of his four-year, $22 million contract with $17 million owed to him. That was confirmed by Culley and a league source with direct knowledge of the Texans’ financial commitment to the Tennessee native.
Ultimately, game management situations and an aversion to analytics and other modern situations proved to be Culley’s undoing.
Culley did build a strong culture and collegial atmosphere. When he felt it was necessary, he would discipline players like Zach Cunningham, who was frequently late and a few times a no-show and he was eventually released, along with cornerback Desmond King and safety Justin Reid for violating team rules.
"I would say when you rewind here and go back to a year ago, I'd say the organization was in a pretty rough spot, and I think from where we were then to where we are now, we're in a lot better position," Caserio said Friday. "And quite frankly, I think that's because of the leadership and the guidance and the direction that David Culley brought in this football team."
It was a difficult situation that Culley inherited. J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, asked for and was granted his release. Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is also facing 22 civil lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints alleging sexual misconduct, requested a trade.
The Texans’ first interview was with former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores. The Texans are expected to interview New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, according to league sources. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels hasn’t displayed interest in the opening or any openings while New England is in the playoffs, according to sources.
“I don’t think anybody should assume anything,” Caserio said when he was asked if the next head coach will have ties to New England. “I think we’re going to be very deliberate. I’ll be very deliberate with this process. The most important thing is just finding the best fit for this organization.”
Caserio said he’s had outstanding support from the McNair family, including during this time of transition.
“I think they’ve been very open-minded,” Caserio said. “They’ve listened, they’ve been very receptive. Ultimately, my goal is to do right by their family and this organization. You have to have honest conversations, sometimes they’re hard conversations. They believe in me, so I, in turn, have to take ownership and give them the information and do what I feel makes the most since. Really, if we just take myself out of it for a second, what we’re trying to build in terms of our system, in terms of our process, there are things that are sustainable for a long period of time so that when I’m not here, which at some point I probably won’t be here, the Houston Texans organization can continue to move forward.
“We’re trying to do things that their family can carry with them for a long period of time. Honestly, they might supersede the time that I’m here. While I’m here, I’m committed to them, I’m committed to this organization, I’m committed to the people in the building. They listen, they’re receptive, and ultimately they’re placing trust in my vision and playing for what we are going to do moving forward, and that’s a lot of responsibility to put on my shoulders, but that’s okay. That’s why I’m here, and I’m not afraid to do it.”
Now, the Texans head into a pivotal offseason with the third overall pick, over 30 expired contracts and a lot of work to do to try to build a competitive team.
The Texans do have $27.774 million in salary cap space, along with $35.122 million in dead money.
And they need to rekindle fan interest after there were a ton of games with lots of empty seats last season at NRG Stadium and opposing fans taking over in terms of attendance.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Caserio said. “This year, I think we put a really good foundation in place. I’d say with the infrastructure and the team and the players, you all talked to the players on a week-to-week basis. In terms of the attitude, the professionalism, we got a lot of good production and performance from a lot of players this season, some career level of performance. Moving forward, our situation right now is a lot better than it was, I would say, when we sat here last year from an asset allocation, from a salary cap structure, from resources or players in the building to externally, opportunities that might be available for us in free agency to right now.
“We have the third overall pick, or whatever that is. I think there’s some pretty good things that are in place. Again, there’s a lot of work to do in front of us and we’re not afraid to roll up our sleeves. But I think the competitive spirit and the mindset and the thought process of the people that are here in the building is overall positive.”