(SportsRadio 610) - It’s a process, but the Texans firing Jack Easterby could be a top three most impactful move for the organization.
Hired by the organization in 2019 as executive vice president of team development, Easterby quickly ascended within the organization, was promoted, and took over control of football operations in January 2020.
Since that moment, the demise of your Houston Texans had shifted into overdrive, starting with trading DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for David Johnson and a failed second-round pick.
Here’s the timeline:
Texans hire Jack Easterby April 2019.
Texans fire GM Brian Gaine one day after New England Patriots Super Bowl ring ceremony. - June 7, 2019
Patriots accuse Texans of tampering over Nick Caserio - June 12, 2019.
Patriots drop tampering charges, Texans stop pursuit of Nick Caserio - June 14, 2019.
Texans divide GM duties amongst Bill O’Brien, director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan, director of college scouting James Liipfert, senior VP of football administration Chris Olsen and executive VP of team development Jack Easterby - July 2019.
Acquired WR Kenny Stills and LT Laremy Tunsil from Miami for CB Johnson Bademosi and T Julian Davenport. Acquired LB Jacob Martin and LB Barkavious Mingo from Seattle for DE Jadeveon Clowney - Sept. 2, 2019.
Texans owner Cal McNair announces Bill O’Brien as GM and Jack Easterby as executive VP of football operations - Jan. 28, 2020.
DeAndre Hopkins traded - Mar. 16, 2020.
Deshaun Watson signs four-year $156 million extension - September 5, 2020.
Bill O’Brien fired - Oct. 5, 2020.
Sports Illustrated article published, highlighting dozens of people including some in Texans organization that detailed accounts of Easterby undermining executives, creating culture of distrust and advocating trading Hopkins amongst other things - Dec. 2020.
Texans hire GM Nick Caserio - Jan. 7, 2021.
Andre Johnson criticizes Jack Easterby on Twitter, defends Deshaun Watson trade request - Jan 12, 2021.
Texans hire David Culley as new head coach - Jan. 27, 2021.
Deshaun Watson officially requests trade - Jan. 28, 2021.
Longtime team president Jamey Rootes resigned from organization - sources told ESPN at the time, Rootes wasn’t happy with direction Easterby was taking organization - Feb. 10, 2021.
JJ Watt released - Feb. 12, 2021.
Lawyer Tony Buzbee announces he’s filing suit against Deshaun Watson - March 16, 2021.
Texans fire David Culley - Jan. 13, 2022
Texans hire Lovie Smith as new head coach - Feb. 7, 2022.
Texans trade Deshaun Watson - June 27, 2022.
Texans fire Jack Easterby - Oct. 17, 2022.
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So here we are. It’s been a long and ridiculously unnecessary path, but here we are Houston.
While firing Easterby can’t necessarily be considered a step in the right direction, it certainly could be a sign that Texans owner Cal McNair is listening to the right football people this time.
If that person is Nick Caserio, then fine. We’ve seen that he can clearly do far worse. Nick Caserio deserves credit for doing a good job thus far rebuilding the team through the draft. The 2021 class looks bleak, but the 2022 class highlighted by fourth-round pick running back Dameon Pierce looks very promising going forward.
McNair, who wanted Nick Caserio as his GM before even hiring Easterby, should get a little credit that. Easterby has taken credit for the Caserio hiring, which is not entirely true. While instrumental in it, if he was an honest man he’d take the blame for the tampering charges as well.
What’s going to be hard to forget, and difficult to forgive is the poor judgment McNair showed in a business that he should’ve known better, having spent the 20 years prior watching his father run it.
Allowing his organization to continue without a general manager for seven months after the curious firing of Brian Gaine, let alone elevating Easterby to roles he wasn’t qualified for was incredulous and negligent.
The distrust he fostered and the malpractice of his duties, which went unaccounted for, until now, has cost the Texans organization fans, money, respect and admiration.
While rumors should now turn into reports, it’s been suggested for a number of months now, that Easterby had lost a lot of influence within the building. Holding nothing more than a fancy title and a fat paycheck, the damage was already done.
Caserio and the Texans current brain trust is charged with a reclamation project and there are some signs that it’s working, with success of latest draft class and the new culture in the clubhouse, but it’s still early.
Trust is earned, not given. Cal has to learn that.
Easterby’s departure Monday is a solid indication that he might be in the process. And while it’s been a long and arduous one Houston, you're that much closer to getting your football team back.
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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