If the Houston Texans want to focus on offense with a new head coach, how about Brian Callahan?
The Houston Texans are in the early stages of finding their next head coach to lead the franchise, as the new hire will be the third head coach in as many seasons, and the second under general manager Nick Caserio.
It was evident that David Culley wasn’t going to be the long-term answer at head coach for Houston once the team finished 4-13, and that included playing a rookie quarterback for a good amount of the season, and a win against the Tennessee Titans, who won the AFC South and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs for the AFC.
Since joining Bengals head coach Zac Taylor in ’19 as the offensive coordinator, Callahan has been a part of some ongoing success, as the ’19 season was a learning year with that franchise, then Cincinnati got the quarterback they wanted in Joe Burrow in ’20. Callahan has also worked with Matthew Stafford, Andy Dalton and Derek Carr during his coaching career.
Since Burrow has joined Callahan on the Bengals offense, and with Burrow being on the field for the entire ’21 season, plus the addition of Ja’Marr Chase at wide receiver this season, Callahan’s offensive unit has more than excelled.
Imagine that type of offense with the Texans.
Callahan helped coach the Bengals to their first playoff win in 31 years, they are an exciting offense to watch, and they’ll take some risk. Callahan trusts his players and quarterback, and they even … get this … will incorporate a rushing game to help the passing game and young quarterback.
Houston Texans: Davis Mills will be impacted with new head coach hire
If the Texans decide to keep Davis Mills as the starting quarterback for the 2022 season his progression is of most importance … well, that and adding to the rushing game and improving parts of the offensive line.
With Mills, though, his progression for any success for the Texans is if he stays in the starter’s role at quarterback. What is great about Callahan is he’s helped Burrow improve from a first season where he was productive before being injured to having an even better ’21 season, resulting in a playoff win in the Wild Card round and winning the AFC North too.
If the Texans are interested in Callahan, they aren’t the only ones, as the Denver Broncos are seriously looking at the offensive coordinator to become their next head coach, and there are sure to be other teams too.
Back to a potential Callahan and Mills combo. Mills showed at the end of the season he’s capable of improving and has the ability to throw long-distance passes, and all of that can build to success in the standings.
For those who might argue he’s never been a head coach, that is the case for every head coach at some point of their career, and he is getting all of this playoff experience with Cincinnati as their offensive coordinator.
Maybe the best thing for the Texans is to have a younger head coach who isn’t stuck in their ways and will take some risks with a young offense, which is opposite of what the Texans’ offense has become as of late.
If Houston wants to focus more on offense rather than the defense, then interviewing Callahan is a smart, professional move that must be made. Whether they hire him or not is a whole different decision, but for this interview process, Callahan is a must-interview candidate to become the next head coach of the Houston Texans.