INDIANAPOLIS Coach Bill O’Brien announced Feb. 25 at the NFL Scouting Combine that he will turn over play-calling to offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.
With O’Brien no longer calling the plays for the first time since 2016 when offensive coordinator George Godsey was the play-caller, how will his game day role change?
“I don’t think it changes it too much,” O’Brien told reporters. “I think that one of the bigger changes would be between series.”
Previously, O’Brien would spend time in between offensive series with quarterback Deshaun Watson, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, visit with the offensive line, running backs, tight ends, and receivers.
“I think I’m not going to do probably as much of that,” said O’Brien.
Instead, the 50-year-old, who took the Texans’ job in 2014, will be able to be more of a “walk around coach.”
Said O’Brien: “I think I’ll do more about being able to focus on the whole game, how the game is being played and things like that, but I don’t think it changes it too much.”
Giving up the play-calling is a welcome sight for fans who have been critics of O’Brien’s game plans, but realistically the move probably was influenced by the other day-to-day operations O’Brien took on as general manager of the team. Nonetheless, the move allows Kelly the opportunity to grow as a coach in the NFL. Working with a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, with three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins as a receiving target, should help Kelly’s transition into calling plays full-time.
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