Tag: Jerrod Johnson

Saints Twitter melts down after Jerrod Johnson backs out of OC search

Saints Twitter reactions to Jerrod Johnson returning to the Texans were mixed, but confidence in the offensive coordinator search is waning

There weren’t many names in this year’s hiring cycle drawing more buzz than Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson. The 35-year-old interviewed with the New Orleans Saints and five other teams looking for a new offensive coordinator — including playoff teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns as well as the rebuilding New England Patriots.

Instead, Johnson elected to stay another year in Houston, where he received a raise and an extension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He’ll continue working with young star quarterback C.J. Stroud under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik which should give him a great opportunity to improve his stock ahead of the 2025 hiring cycle. If Slowik is hired away next year then Johnson is a natural successor on DeMeco Ryans’ staff.

But that didn’t leave Saints fans feeling happy. Reactions were mixed (some were turned off by Johnson’s lack of experience) but confidence in the offensive coordinator search is waning. Dennis Allen can’t afford to get this hire wrong. Here’s what fans are saying in the aftermath of Johnson returning to Houston:

Bobby Slowik, Jerrod Johnson elect to run it back with Texans in 2024

The Texans return two key offensive coaches in Bobby Slowik and Jerrod Johnson, who chose to stay in Houston for the 2024 season.

After the Houston Texans season ended with a crushing 34-10 loss in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, quarterback C.J. Stroud was ready to “Run It Back” immediately. With the amount of success the Texans had this season, with 11 total wins, they want that feeling of exhilaration from the victories and the fans.

Stroud, the odds-on favorite to win the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, is securely in place to lead the franchise for the next few years. So is most of his offensive line led by 2023 Pro Bowl starter Laremy Tunsil when you add in wide receiver Tank Dell, the potential of Nico Collins being signed to a long-term deal, and additions to the running back position through free agency or the draft.

The only uncertainty was if the Texans would have offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik back to design plays and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson helping Stroud improve for another season.

Slowik, who like Stroud is also in contention to be recognized as the 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year at the NFL Honors in Las Vegas, has been interviewed by numerous teams such as the Washington Commanders, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina Panthers since the end of the Texans season.

Yet, according to confirmed league sources, he has decided that the best course of action was for him to stay and finish what he started with his friend, head coach DeMeco Ryans, who gave Slowik an opportunity to call plays for the first time in his career based on the relationship he formed with him during their days with the San Francisco 49ers.

“I knew he was going to push me hard,” Stroud said about Slowik’s approach with him. “He was going to be hard on me. He held me to a standard all year. He held me accountable. A lot of times when you’re playing good ball, guys, they kind of let you do what you do and leave you alone. Bobby was always on me about the little details in my position, and I appreciated that because you don’t always get that. He was always just hard on me, but also showed me a lot of love – a ton of love.”

This season has been an incredible ride for quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, who, like Slowik, appreciated the opportunities he was given to interview this offseason.

Johnson, who played quarterback at Texas A&M University, was a candidate for the offensive coordinator jobs with the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but instead stayed loyal to the Houston Texans franchise and coach Ryans, according to confirmed league sources. It was Ryans who gave him the opportunity to come back home (Johnson is a Houston native) and help develop Stroud, who finished the season with 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He also led the league with 273.9 yards per game.

“I’ve known Jerrod since I was 16,” Stroud said about Johnson in his final interview with the media to end the season. “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. A guy who loves football, he loves Houston, he loves Texas. Someone who has just taught me a tremendous amount of information, but on top of that, put a lot of confidence into me as well.”

“When I was 16 at the Elite 11, we did like this little circle group; it was like all the quarterbacks in my group. Jerrod’s one thing for me was like, ‘Be confident.’ At that time, I wasn’t really the highest recruit. I wasn’t who I would become. I always knew it would be a possibility, but I didn’t hear those type of – Jerrod is someone I looked up to. When he was like, ‘Man, you need to be more confident,’ it changed my life. From there, fast forward, and now I’m here with him in my rookie year; it’s been just a blessing to work with him. I’m excited for him, and he deserves everything that’s coming for him. I’m super blessed to be able to work with him and Bobbly [Slowik].”

Houston’s abysmal offense improved from 25th in passing yards per game in 2022 to fifth in 2023 under Slowik’s and Johnson’s guidance this season.

Report: Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson returning to Houston after taking several OC interviews

According to NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport, Johnson informed teams on Monday that he has withdrawn his name from OC candidacy.

After interviewing for three respective offensive coordinator openings around the NFL, Texas A&M alumnus Jerrod Johnson is returning to coach quarterbacks for the Houston Texans.

According to NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport, Johnson informed teams on Monday evening that he has withdrawn his name from OC candidacy to “finish what he started” in H-Town. Johnson recently took two interviews with the New Orleans Saints and had one with each of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Before suiting up for six NFL teams during his playing career, Johnson made history in College Station. When he graduated, the Houston native held two Texas A&M program records with the most yards passing (8,011) and total offensive yards (8,888) all-time. Kellen Mond now holds both records and Johnson is third in total yards behind Mond and Johnny Manziel.

Johnson got his start in coaching with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 under the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. He served in the same position with the Indianapolis Colts in 2019 before being elevated to an offensive quality control coach for the next two seasons. Johnson served as assistant quarterbacks coach on the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 before being hired by Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans prior to this season.

Given the success of Ohio State alumnus, rookie CJ Stroud, under the guidance of Johnson, the interviews for Johnson will likely continue to roll in for years to come.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Jerrod Johnson pulls out of Saints OC search, will return to Houston

Breaking: Jerrod Johnson pulls out of Saints offensive coordinator search, will return to Texans

The New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator search has lost another candidate, but this time it wasn’t someone getting hired by a different team. Top candidate Jerrod Johnson has told teams that he will be returning to the Houston Texans as their quarterbacks coach for another season, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He’ll have an opportunity to gain experience and improve his standing after another year working with C.J. Stroud and Bobby Slowik.

New Orleans wasn’t the only team in pursuit of Johnson, but they made him a priority. The Saints had interviewed Johnson twice, with him being near the top of their list as well as multiple other teams. They have a second interview planned with former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy  on Wednesday, who will be the only other candidate to meet with the Saints twice.

As for the rest of their list (that are still available), it is as follows: Greg Lewis, Klint Kubiak, Brian Griese, Ronald Curry, Mike Sullivan and Brian Johnson. Others may have met with the team but not been reported, as was the case for Getsy, so stay tuned.

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Saints offensive coordinator search: Who’s interviewed twice, who’s off the board

New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator search: Who has interviewed twice, who is off the board, and who is still available?

There isn’t a more important question for the New Orleans Saints to answer right now than this: “Who is calling plays in 2024?”

For the first time in more than a decade, the Saints are searching for a new offensive coordinator — and one who will be calling plays, not just helping Sean Payton design the game plan each week. Getting the most out of cornerstone players like Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Taysom Hill while curing what ails the offensive line is critical.

It’s no exaggeration to say this is the most important hire that Dennis Allen will make as head coach. If he gets this wrong and the Saints offense starts out on a cripplingly slow pace again, it’ll be curtains for him. He needs to find the right coach who can carry Carr’s positive momentum over into 2024 while reviving one of the NFL’s least-creative rushing attacks. That’s no small task.

And names keep getting added to the search as the Saints interview more and more candidates. We’ll keep this list updated and check in on who is still available, who has gotten a second interview with New Orleans, and who has been taken off the board by other teams:

Bucs interview Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson for OC position

Johnson is one of the most sought-after OC candidates this cycle after his work with Texans QB C.J. Stroud in 2023.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have completed an interview with one of the hottest offensive coordinator candidates on the market.

The team announced on Tuesday that it has interviewed Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson for its offensive coordinator position. Johnson has been a sought-out candidate for the whole cycle this offseason, and a big part of that is what he’s done with Houston’s rookie quarterback.

Johnson oversaw the development of QB C.J. Stroud in Houston, and Stroud went on to put together one of the better rookie campaigns in recent memory. Under Johnson’s tutelage, Stroud threw for 23 touchdowns, five picks and 4,108 yards — despite missing two games this year.

Johnson completed his fourth year as a coach in 2023, previously spending two years with the Indianapolis Colts and then one with the Minnesota Vikings as an offensive assistant and an assistant quarterbacks coach, respectively. The move would be a big one for Tampa Bay, as it could keep the momentum of a fresh new mind offensively and it could also serve as a good lure to win over quarterback Baker Mayfield in making his choice to return to Tampa Bay.

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Pros and cons of every OC candidate Saints have interviewed

Breaking down the pros and cons of every offensive coordinator candidate the New Orleans Saints have interviewed:

The writing was on the wall for Pete Carmichael following the New Orleans Saints’ 2023 season. He was let go after 14 years as the team’s offensive coordinator and the Saints will need to replace him. They’ve already done a number of interviews, but a few coaches have already been hired away.

Carmichael was a nice coach under Payton, but really lacked the ability to run the offense without him. As Dennis Allen is a defensive head coach, whoever the Saints hire will have to carry the load of the offense.

Here are the pros and cons to every offensive coordinator candidate the Saints have interviewed so far (that is still available):

Browns OC candidate Jerrod Johnson gets second interview with Saints

The Browns have competition for Johnson.

The Cleveland Browns are feeling the heat from the New Orleans Saints over the potential offensive coordinator services of Jerrod Johnson.

Johnson, the current quarterbacks coach of the Houston Texans, has been a hot commodity from teams looking for a new offensive coordinator. The Browns are far from the only team to interview him, but now he has a second interview in New Orleans as their interest is heating up.

Getting a ton of praise for the development of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, Johnson has now worked for the likes of Kevin O’Connell, Bobby Slowik, Kyle Shanahan, and Frank Reich throughout his young career as he rises through the ranks.

With Kellen Moore already off the board, agreeing to become the new offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Browns may want to wrap up their search fast.

Could Johnson be the next man up in Cleveland as they look to continue to get the most out of Deshaun Watson?

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Report: Texas A&M alumnus Jerrod Johnson has second interview for New Orleans Saints OC job

According to Pro Football Talk, Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson has had a second interview with the Saints for the vacancy.

A former Texas A&M starting quarterback is one step closer to becoming the next offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints.

According to Pro Football Talk writer Josh Alper, Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson has had a second interview with the Saints for their vacancy. He had his first interview earlier this week, which was the first of three, also interviewing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles respective OC jobs.

Before suiting up for six NFL teams during his playing career, Johnson made history in College Station. When he graduated, the Houston native held two Texas A&M program records with the most yards passing (8,011) and total offensive yards (8,888) all-time. Kellen Mond now holds both records and Johnson is third in total yards behind Mond and Johnny Manziel.

Johnson got his start in coaching with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 under the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. He served in the same position with the Indianapolis Colts in 2019 before being elevated to an offensive quality control coach for the next two seasons. Johnson served as assistant quarterbacks coach on the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 before being hired by Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans prior to this season.

Given the success of Ohio State alumnus, rookie CJ Stroud, under the guidance of Johnson, the interviews will continue to roll in for the former Aggie.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson schedules second interview with Saints

Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson scheduled a second interview with the Saints, meeting team brass in person on Saturday:

This could be big: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the New Orleans Saints are meeting Jerrod Johnson for a second interview on Saturday, this time speaking with him in person following a virtual interview earlier this week. He’s a candidate for their open offensive coordinator position.

Johnson, 35, has been a hot candidate as teams work to look for their new play caller. He’s also interviewed with the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles.

A highly productive quarterback at Texas A&M, Johnson has risen quickly through the coaching ranks as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers (under Kyle Shanahan) and Indianapolis Colts (under Frank Reich). Before joining DeMeco Ryans’ staff on the Texans, he was an assistant quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings under Kevin O’Connell. He’s worked closely with some of the most successful head coaches in the league and could be a good fit with the Saints.

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