Anthony Weaver always knew he wanted to be a defensive coordinator and the responsibility that entails.
Weaver’s first break after spending 2002-08 as a defensive lineman in the NFL was as a graduate assistant with the Florida Gators in 2010. It helped that the head football coach at the time, Urban Meyer, was a receivers coach at Notre Dame from 1996-2000, where Weaver played his college ball.
When Weaver got the news he was going to be promoted from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans, one of the first people he met with was Meyer.
“When he found out I had gotten this role he said, ‘Weave, you’re out of the suggestion business and you’re into the decision business,'” Weaver told Houston reporters on a video conference on May 13.
For years as an defensive line coach for the New York Jets in 2012, and a defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2013 and Cleveland Browns from 2014-15 before landing in Houston in 2016 in the same capacity, Weaver knew he wanted to know more about the back seven of the defense and all of the intricacies of the defensive side of the ball.
When Meyer told Weaver that he was now a decision maker, it carried “a lot of weight” for Weaver.
Said Weaver: “That’s probably been the biggest transition. I just know that I have the final say and I’m always going to try to do what’s best for the team.”
Having experience as an NFL player also gives him the ability to relate to his players, which helps be more of a “player’s coach.”
“The other thing I think I can relate to is I’ve been in those seats,” said Weaver. “So, I know those days when they’re beat up and they’re stressed out. I feel like I know when to push and I know when pull and I think that gives me an advantage over some coaches that probably haven’t played.”
The Texans had Romeo Crennel, who will stay on as an assistant head coach, as defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Houston is hopeful Weaver can bring an infusion of new ideas into the group.
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