HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Texans parted ways with head coach Lovie Smith on Sunday, Jan. 8, after just one season. Smith led the Texans to a disappointing 3-13-1 record and was the second coach in a row that the Texans fired after one season as head coach.
"We are grateful for [Smith's] leadership and character, and we wish him the best moving forward," chairman and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement. "While we understand the results have not been what we had hoped for, we are committed to building a program that produces long-term, sustainable success. Our fans and city deserve a team that they can be proud of."
The Texans have had four different head coaches in four consecutive years. Houston fired Bill O’Brian, Ex-General Manager and Head Coach, after starting the 2020 season 0-4. Romeo Crenel took over for O’Brian and finished the season 4-8. New GM Nick Caserio hired David Culley, who went 4-13 in 2021 before the Texans fired him. Houston elevated defensive coordinator Lovie Smith after the Culley but also only lasted one year.
The Texans played better to close out the year, as they stayed competitive in almost all their games. It took last-second heroics from the Dallas Cowboys to beat Houston 27-24 in Week 14. The Texans lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime a week later. Houston went on to win their last two out of three to finish their 2022 campaign, most recently with a win over their division rival, the Indianapolis Colts, in the season finale, 32-31.
The last victory lost the Texans the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to the Chicago Bears, and though McNair and Caserios would never admit it, it could have been the final nail in Smith’s proverbial coffin. Smith said there was zero consideration for not trying to win to secure the number one pick.
"This is an option that I had. So you say, 'Hey guys ... all that you've been working for your life, you play to win, forget that. Lose the game on purpose.'" Smith said. "That will be a hard one to get by. They won't expect me to say that. I didn't. What we work on each week, our game plan has been to win the game. It's kind of simple as that,” Smith said.
GM Nick Caserio said in a statement, “I’m constantly evaluating our football operation and believe this is the best decision for us at this time. It is my responsibility to build a comprehensive and competitive program that can sustain success over a long period of time.”
We aren’t there right now. However, with the support of the McNair family and the resources available to us, I am confident in the direction of our football program moving forward,” Caserio said.
Houston Texans Lovie Smith
(Credit: houstontexans.com)
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