Tag: Houston Texans

WATCH: Former Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins scores TD in Super Bowl LIX

One of the greatest Houston Texans receivers found his way into the end zone in Super Bowl LIX.

When drafted out of Clemson in 2013, DeAndre Hopkins planned on making the Super Bowl one day.

He just envisioned that journey coming with the Houston Texans and not the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now, he’ll have to hope he can return to the big game in 2025 to win the Lombardi Trophy.

Hopkins, considered by some as one of the greatest Texans players in franchise history, found his way into the end zone on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes with two minutes remaining in Super Bowl LIX.

The Philadelphia Eagles would cap off their dominant postseason runs shortly after in a 40-22 win down in New Orleans. Hopkins also caught a two-point conversion following Mahomes’ 50-yard touchdown pass to rookie Xavier Worthy.

Though Hopkins’ score came far too late to alter the final score in a meaningful way, it helped the final score of Kansas City’s matchup against the Eagles.

One of the best to ever play at NRG Stadium, Hopkins spent seven seasons with the Texans before being traded ahead of the 2020 season.

After spending two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Hopkins joined the Tennessee Titans in 2023 and later was traded to Kansas City at the deadline this past October.

It is unclear whether the Chiefs will elect to bring Hopkins back next season, but even if the veteran wideout’s time in Kansas City ends after Super Bowl LIX, he can always say he scored in the game most are never promised to play in.

Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. hints on upcoming contract extension

Houston Texans cornerback Derk Stingley hints at a brand new contract extension coming this offseason after an All-Pro year.

Derek Stingley Jr. made it clear to the Kansas City Chiefs that he wanted to be with the Houston Texans following the divisional round to the Kansas City Chiefs “for life.”

That’s not a bit to the local media. He continues to preach his approach to staying in Houston for the long haul.

Stingley, who earned first-team All-Pro status after a breakout 2024 season, appeared on The Pivot Podcast during Pro Bowl week to talk about his breakout season and his father, Derek Sr.

Ryan Clark brought up the contract extension headed into the offseason since Derek Jr. can sign after the Super Bowl.
His answer was brief and direct.

“I want to stay in Houston for the rest of my career really,” Stingley said.

Houston’s top defensive back closed out his 2024 season on a high note with two interceptions in the AFC wild-card round victory against the Chargers.

Earlier this season, Stingley switched agents, signing on with David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Not only has Mulugheta Stingley become his client, but Mulugheta did that for Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, signing a three-year, $72.1 million extension to make him the highest-paid average player at the position.

After a dominant season in man coverage, Stingley has laid down the foundation for a new deal with the team. Houston plans to begin conversations with the former No. 3 overall pick later this offseason, though there isn’t a timeline for either side to call it a day.

“The deal gonna happen when it happens,” Stingley said.

As for a holdout, Stingley said there’s too much to be accomplished as a team for him to put individual needs first.

“We still have to take care of business,” he said. “I still got to work out, I still got to be there, be around the team.”

Texans sign DE Kingsley Jonathan to reserve-future deal

The Houston Texans have agreed to terms with former Buffalo Bills defensive Kingsley Jonathan to a reserve-future deal.

There’s a new member joining the Houston Texans’ offseason roster.

The Texans have agreed to terms with former Buffalo Bills defensive end Kingsley Jonathan to a reserve-future deal. Jonathan, who started three seasons at Syracuse, went undrafted and signed with the Bills last offseason.

He’s a former top overall pick in the Canadian Football League draft by the Montreal Alouettes. Jonathan has played for the Chicago Bears where he racked up 10 tackles, including two for losses.

With the Orange, Jonathan finished his college career at 101 tackles, 21 1/2 for losses, 15 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

The Texans, who finished 11-8 following a second AFC South division title under C.J. Stroud, own the No. 25 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Reggie Bush reflects on how Drew Brees changed his career forever

Former Saints running back Reggie Bush recently discussed how important Drew Brees was to his career development

The New Orleans Saints have been lucky to have some exceptional talents walk through their doors, and two of the most notable ones from their Super Bowl victory were Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. Brees was a once in a generation type player for a franchise, and Bush was an exceptional offensive talent to counterbalance the offense and give it great versatility.

However, the Saints almost did not get Bush, with the Houston Texans holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, they had the opportunity to take him, and both sides met an enormous amount leading up to that day. Ultimately, the Texans went with Mario Williams instead, and Bush fell to the Saints at pick No. 2, and that was history.

Bush recently discussed this process, and how Brees impacted his career heavily and gave him confidence in the Saints to be his long term landing spot, dropping the following information:

“There were a lot of doubts at that time, because of Katrina, and the Saints didn’t have a home stadium at this time period. So, their stadium was completely destroyed, and there was no guarantee as to where they were gonna play their games. So I was like man, I don’t know about going into that situation, ’cause there’s a lot of uncertainty there, more chaos.”

“This is also what partly changed my heart as well, was, after that was announced Drew called me… and he was like, ‘Man great to meet you, great to talk to you, but I wanna let you know, I played with who I think was one of the greatest running backs ever LaDainian Tomlinson. I think you have an opportunity to be just as good or better than him, and I can’t wait to play with you.’ That gave me all the confidence in the world that like… Okay this is the spot for me, this is where I need to go.”

For the purpose of clarity, when stating “after that was announced” he was speaking in regards to the Texans essentially having a deal done with Williams, meaning Bush would fall to pick No. 2. Initially, Bush’s agents wanted him to fall further and play for the New York Jets in a big media market, but Saints head coach Sean Payton refused to play ball. At the end of the day, Brees helped sell Bush on playing for New Orleans anyway.

This type of context provides an immense look into what truly occurs behind the scenes in the NFL draft and landscape altogether. It is no surprise to hear Brees was one of the large selling points for Bush on being content with this new landing spot after being told he was going to Houston for months beforehand.

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Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson sticking around for 2025 season

Jerrod Johnson is back with the Houston Texans for the 2025 season.

Jerrod Johnson isn’t going anywhere.

According to KPRC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Johnson is expected to remain the Houston Texans quarterback coach after interviewing for the offensive coordinator job.

On Monday, the job ultimately went to former Los Angeles Rams assistant coach Nick Caley following a two-year run with Sean McVay.

Johnson, 37, was a hot commodity for a potential promotion after his success with Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. The favorite internal candidate,  Johnson also interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets offensive coordinator openings.

The Raiders ultimately hired Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly while the Jets filled the position with Detriot Lions assistant Tanner Engstrand.

This marks the second offseason Johnson has been a name up for promotion. He interviewed last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots for their offensive coordinator positions, but elected to return to Houston for another year.

Part of the reason for his return is because of the relationship with Stroud. The two first met while Stroud was in high school at the Elite Eleven camp during his sophomore year.

The two’s relationship continued to build from Rancho Cucamonga toward bigger avenues during his time at Ohio State. Stroud has spoken highly for years about Johnson since his arrival in Houston in 2023.

“One thing that I can say about Jerrod, you talk about somehow who knows how to play the position of quarterback and knows how to relay something, but also just a great person, man,” Stroud said. “A guy who loves football, he loves Houston, he loves Texas.”

The Texans own the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Texans legend J.J. Watt, wife Kealia announce pregnancy

Congrats to the Watt family for welcoming another member to the Texans clan!

Add a future Houston Texans star to the crew in 2025.

Three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Texans legend J.J. Watt and his wife, Kealia Watt, that the two are expecting their second child, posting a pregnancy announcement on Instagram Monday.

“Can’t wait to welcome new love into our lives,” the couple posted Monday afternoon, along with photos of Kealia’s baby bump.

The former Houston power couple welcomed their first child, Koa James, in October 2022. Three months following Koa’s birth, J.J. retired with the Arizona Cardinals.

J.J. played 10 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Texans before spending the final two years with the Cardinals. After retirement, he was inducted into the Texans’ Ring of Honor in 2023.

Kealia, who won a national championship at the University of North Carolina, was the No. 2 overall pick of the Houston Dash in the 2014 NWSL draft. She met J.J. through sister, Megan, who is married to Watt’s former Texans teammate Brian Cushing.

The two began dating in 2016 when Ohai was in her third season with the Dash. They married in 2020 shortly after Ohai was traded from the Dash to the Chicago Red Stars.

Since retiring, the Watt’s have been busy. J.J. currently works for CBS Sports as an analyst. The couple also are minority owners of the Premier League’s Burnley Football Club, which was relegated following the 2024 season.

Grade the move: Texans hire Rams assistant Nick Caley as new offensive coordinator

What do you think of the hiring of Texans new offensive coordinator Nick Caley down in H-Town?

The Houston Texans have their new play-caller.

According to multiple reports, the Texans plan to hire Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Nick Caley as their new offensive coordinator.

He’ll replace Bobby Slowik, who was fired after two seasons with the AFC South franchise.

Caley, 42, previously interviewed for the offensive coordinator position in 2023 before Texans coach DeMeco Ryans ultimately decided to hire Slowik, according to multiple reports. He previously interviewed for both the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers open positions as well.

Before joining forces with Sean McVay and Matt Stafford, Caley spent time working closely with Texans general manager Nick Caserio in New England. He previously served as the tight ends coach and fullbacks coach under Bill Belichick from 2015 until the 2022 season.

Caley and Caserio both went to John Carroll University.

The top task for the new play-caller will be to build a relationship with third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who suffered a sophomore slump in 2024 after guiding the Texans to a second AFC South division title.

He’ll also be tasked with fixing an offensive line that allowed 54 sacks last season, which was third-most in the league last year.

His rapport with the tight end position should lead to better results from Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover after an underwhelming campaign last fall.

Overall, what do you think of the move, Texans fans? Vote down below!

Grade the Texans' hiring of Rams assistant Nick Caley
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Texans to hire Rams assistant Nick Caley as offensive coordinator

The Houston Texans have their new offensive coordinator in Nick Caley from the Los Angeles Rams.

The Houston Texans have found their next play-caller.

According to reports, the Texans plan to hire Rams tight end coach and passing-game coordinator Nick Caley as their next offensive coordinator.

Caley, a fan-favorite to land the job, will replace Bobby Slowik, who was fired after two seasons.

Caley, 42, was one of the top names on the market this offseason after two seasons with Los Angeles. He was rumored to be the favorite to land the New York Jets offensive coordinator position. He interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator opening last week following Liam Coen’s departure to Jacksonville.

Caley joined the Rams ahead of the 2023 season after spending six seasons as the tight ends/fullbacks coach for the New England Patriots. He’s considered one of the top influences in developing All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski entering the back half of his career.

In Caley’s first season, Gronkowski led all tight ends in receiving yards (1,084) and yards per reception (15.7) while earning his fifth Pro Bowl nod. He was also named an AP First-Team All-Pro selection.

That same season, fullback James Develin earned his first Pro Bowl nod under Caley’s watch.

As the pass-game coordinator, Caley spent time with Matthew Stafford, who posted strong numbers en route to a division title. The veteran quarterback finished with 20 touchdown passes against eight interceptions and completed 65.8% of his pass attempts.

Caley’s work with tight ends should benefit the Texans, too. Under his teaching last year, Tyler Higbee broke multiple franchise records for Los Angeles, including surpassing Harold Jackson for 14th all-time receiving yards.

Higbee also passed Jack Snow and Elroy Hirsch, moving into ninth all-time in franchise history in receptions.

Since Caley’s arrival, Higbee’s totaled 55 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns, though he was limited most of the 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL late last year.

Caley went to John Carroll University, the same alma mater as Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio. He was in New England during Caserio’s time before he departed for Houston in 2021.

The top task for the new play-caller will be to build a relationship with third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who suffered a sophomore slump in 2024 after guiding the Texans to a second AFC South division title.

He’ll also be tasked with fixing an offensive line that allowed 54 sacks last season, which was third-most in the league last year.

His rapport with the tight end position should lead to better results from Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover after an underwhelming campaign last fall.

Texans are hiring Rams TEs coach Nick Caley as their new offensive coordinator

Another one of Sean McVay’s assistants is moving on to become a coordinator elsewhere

After two years in Los Angeles, Nick Caley is already on his way out. The Rams’ tight ends coach and passing game coordinator is being hired as the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator on DeMeco Ryans’ staff.

Caley previously spent eight years with the New England Patriots from 2015-2022 before being hired by the Rams in 2023 as their tight ends coach. He added the title of passing game coordinator last season and will now get his first opportunity to be an OC in the NFL.

Caley, 42, was the leading OC target for the Jets from the start, but he made it known that he wasn’t interested in the position. Instead, he’ll land with the Texans, who let go of Bobby Slowik this offseason.

Caley is a two-time Super Bowl champion and though he’s never called offensive plays, he’s gained valuable experience working under Bill Belichick and Sean McVay.

Texans miss out on Ohio State OC Chip Kelly to Raiders

The Houston Texans might have been a fan-favorite among Houston Texans’ fans, but he’s instead headed out to Sin City.

Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is leaving Columbus after one season.

He’s just not headed to the Houston Texans.

Kelly, who guided the Buckeyes to their first national title victory since 2014 and rumored candidate for Houston’s offensive coordinator position, is expected to be named the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator under Pete Carroll.

Kelly, who previously coached Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans during his time in Philadelphia, previously interviewed for the Raiders offensive coordinator position last year under Antonio Pierce, though the job ultimately went to Luke Gesty.

After the hiring didn’t go through, Kelly, 61, reunited with former protege Ryan Day as Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator following his resignation at UCLA.

Kelly seven seasons in college football between UCLA and Ohio State. Before being hired by the Eagles in 2013, he served as Oregon’s head coach for four seasons, guiding the Ducks to a national title appearance in 2010 against Auburn.

Kelly last coached in the NFL in 2016, when he was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for one season. Before that, he spent three seasons with the Eagles, guiding them to a playoff appearance in 2013.

In Las Vegas, Kelly will have a chance to work with first-team All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Jakobi Meyers, who just recorded his first career 1,000-yard season with the Raiders.

The Raiders also own the No. 6 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft in April. The also added an extra third-round draft pick from the Davante Adams trade to the New York Jets and more than $108 million in cap space.

While Kelly’s name was linked to the position in a CBS Sports report last week, it’s unclear if he offically interviewed for the postion or any other opening besides Las Vegas.

Internal candidates include quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson and senior offensive assistant Bill Lazor.

External candidates include Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, and Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Nick Caley, Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and Washington Commanders passing-game coordinator Brian Johnson.

The Texans are expected to make a hire sometime next week before the Super Bowl.