The Houston Texans could be getting one of the better defensive minds to shore up their disappointing unit from a season ago.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Texans are going after former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith as their new defensive coordinator to replace Anthony Weaver, who left to take a job with the Baltimore Ravens as their new defensive line coach.
Smith’s career has not been on as successful of a trajectory as it was when he was in Chicago. After a year off from football after getting fired following a 10-6 finish with the Bears, Smith was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ coach from 2014-15. After going a combined 8-24, the Bucs let Smith go, and he went back in the college ranks to coach Illinois from 2016-20.
How Smith even got consideration for the Bears’ job in 2004 was due to his success as the St. Louis Rams’ defensive coordinator from 2001-03. The Rams qualified for Super Bowl XXXVI his first season, and his last year saw the Rams finish with a 12-4 record and obtain a first-round bye.
If the Texans can get that type of success from their defense, it will help them recover from a 4-12 season, regardless of what happens at quarterback.