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If it has to do with the Houston Texans, Deshaun Watson wants to be involved.
The two-time Pro Bowler is playing for an interim coach in 73-year-old Romeo Crennel. Chances are the three-time Super Bowl winning defensive coordinator won’t be brought back in 2021 as the team’s full-time coach, as he was in 2012 with the Kansas City Chiefs after finishing his interim stint the year prior 2-1.
There are changes on the horizon with the Texans, and Watson wants to be involved.
“Of course I want to be involved in the process, being the franchise quarterback with what the organization, what we want to be here exactly, the foundation and the people that’s going to be running this team and this organization along with the players and myself being the quarterback,” said Watson, who signed a four-year, $177.5 million contract extension in September that keeps him locked in through the 2025 season.
For Watson, it goes beyond having input who will be the new coach and general manager, two jobs they will have to fill after the firing of Bill O’Brien on Oct. 5. The former 2017 first-round pick also sees himself as someone who needs to keep the team unified in mindset and attitude.
“Of course I want to make sure that we’re all on the same page and good energy and things like that, and we’re clicking the right way,” Watson said. “Of course you’re going to hear rumors and things like that, so, I just stay focused on my task and what I can do and communicating with people. I’m just here trying to find ways to win games to try to turn the season around.”
While Watson says he wants to be a part of the input with who will be his new general manager and new coach, in Week 9 preparing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Watson is more oriented on fixing Houston’s 1-6 record.
Said Watson: “Right now, my main focus is trying to turn this season around and try to get some wins and try to make a push. Definitely want to focus on that.”
When the time comes for the Texans to start thinking about the long-term again, Watson will be one of the voices to provide key input.