Houston Texans: Best candidates to take over as head coach after firing Bill O’Brien

7. Tom Herman, Texas head coach

Now going back to the collegiate ranks one last time, Tom Herman has worked with some great players in not only his time as the head coach at Houston and Texas, but he’s been an offensive coordinator at Ohio State and in Columbus his offenses did very well.

It would be nice to see what Deshaun Watson would do with a coach like Herman who isn’t having to greatest success at Texas, but maybe he’s more suited for the NFL. If this offensive-minded head coach were to let Watson loose, maybe that is the formula for the Texans to be successful in 2021 and beyond, but would the defense suffer if most of his focus would be on the offense?

6. Matt Eberflus, Colts defensive coordinator

Going back to the defense, maybe that should be the focus of the Houston Texans, and who knows the AFC South better than current Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus?

Currently the Colts’ 4-3 defense is first in the NFL by allowing 236.3 yards per game in the first month of the season, which is better than the Pittsburgh Steelers in second at 290 ypg allowed in three games. The Texans are currently 22nd at 393.3 ypg allowed as they use a 3-4 defense.

Eberflus’ Colts defense is also allowing 77 yards rushing per game in 2020, and we all know that has been a huge part of the Texans not having great overall success this season, as they are one of the worst run defenses in all of the NFL.

Eberflus has made the Colts a great defense while coaching with Frank Reich, but soon enough he’s going to become a head coach in the NFL. Maybe this time around the Houston Texans will consider a defensive-minded head coach, and if they do, Eberflus has to be on the list of candidates.