Under general manager Nick Caserio, the Texans have issued new job titles for two highly respected personnel department executives.
James Liiipfert and Matt Bazirgan have both been named assistant directors of player personnel.
A former New England Patriots national scout, Liipfert was previously director of college of scouting after originally being hired by former Texans general manager Brian Gaine and coach Bill O'Brien.
Liipfert has worked for the Patriots for nine years, spending three as a national scout. In NFL circles, Liipfert has a strong reputation as a good talent evaluator with a big-time work ethic and attention to detail. A former Georgia Tech walk-on linebacker who earned a scholarship, Liipfert overlapped with O'Brien during his tenure with the Patriots as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
An experienced talent evaluator, Bazirgan was previously the Texans' director of player personnel. He was interviewed for the general manager job that went to Caserio.
Bazirgan was hired in 2018 by Gaine and O'Brien after working 14 years in the Jets' personnel department.
With the Jets, Bazirgan was director of college scouting after previous stints as director of pro personnel and assistant director of pro personnel.
A former starting quarterback for Bates College, Bazirgan was previously an area scout, college scouting assistant and intern for the Jets.
After the draft, the Texans didn't renew the contract of longtime director of pro personnel Rob Kisiel.
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 seasons, including the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.