Cal McNair has read all of the articles and mean tweets about Jack Easterby.
The Houston Texans’ chairman and CEO doesn’t believe that the criticism that his executive vice president of football operations has undergone is equitable proportionate to his overall job performance.
McNair spoke with the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain and said that Easterby had adequately performed the job of interim general manager following the firing of Bill O’Brien on Oct. 5.
“The scrutiny on Jack is really unjustified,” McNair said. “Jack was put into that role the organization needed by me. If missteps were made during that process, we’ll own those within our building. Jack will (return) to the role he was brought here for and what he grew into after he got here.”
With the hiring of Nick Caserio as general manager, it means that Easterby will return to his role as executive vice president of football operations.
McNair also revealed in the interview that there are no plans to fire Easterby, nor are there any indications that Easterby would be leaving the organization.
Though Easterby and Caserio were friends when the two worked together with the New England Patriots from 2013-18, when Easterby was a character coach and Caserio director of player personnel, McNair stated Caserio would be in charge of everything relating to football as the team’s new general manager.
Said McNair: “Nick is in charge of all football personnel, contract negotiations — all those things the GM has for roster building. That’s what Nick is really good at, and he’s been good at it for a long time. Jack will oversee (other) football operations.”
The Texans have had a somewhat dysfunctional start to their offseason coming off of a 4-12 season. To get over the disappointing 2020 season, the Texans will have to open lines of communication and get on the same page, which means bringing quarterback Deshaun Watson back into the fold.