Following the Texans' success from the 2023 season, their offensive coaches are interviewing for promotions with other NFL teams.
First-year offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, a finalist for AP Assistant Coach of the Year, has interviewed for at least five of the seven head coach openings, most of which have since been filled.
Quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson interviewed for multiple offensive coordinator openings, and a second interview with the New Orleans Saints was scheduled for Saturday.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud spoke about both of them this week, realizing either or both could be hired away this offseason.
Stroud has known Johnson for six years, when Johnson coached him at the Elite 11 camp.
"He was my quarterback coach there," Stroud recalled of Johnson. "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. A guy who loves football, he loves Houston, he loves Texas. He loves his family, he's a great family man. 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 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. He played at Texas A&M, I knew that and stuff like that. 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 my rookie year, it's been just a blessing to work with him and I'm – whatever happens – 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."
Slowik called plays for one of the top passing offenses in the league. The Texans finished seventh in passing yards per game (245.5) and ranked second the NFL in pass plays over 25 yards through the 2023 regular season (41).
Four different Texans pass catchers logged at least one game with 100+ receiving yards, which is more than any team in the NFL.
Stroud also spoke of Slowik's impact.
"I knew he was going to push me hard," Stroud said of Slowik. "He was going to be hard on me. He held me at a standard all year. 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.
"Very knowledgeable, can really dice a defense up. Puts a lot of trust in his players and really just never got away from what he knows. Of course, tailored his coaching to what was here at the Texans, but he did what was at the core of his heart and I could appreciate that. Whatever happens with those guys, they deserve whatever is coming to them. It's been a blessing working with them, but if they come back, that would be cool too."
