The Texans’ success in DeMeco Ryans’ first season has led to opposing teams pursing offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson. Both interviewed for multiple jobs – Slowik as a head coach and Johnson as an offensive coordinator.
Until all the jobs are filled – or until Slowik and Johnson tell Ryans they’re staying with him for another season – the Texans will have to hold their collective breath hoping they won’t lose two assistants who did outstanding jobs this season.
Ryans came from the 49ers, who know what it’s like to lose coaches and front office executives every year. It’s the price of success. The Texans going from 3-13-1 to 10-7 in Ryans’ first season, including an AFC South title and wild card victory over the Browns, is getting a lot of well-deserved recognition. It’s not surprising Slowik and Johnson are attracting attention because of the crucial roles they played in rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud’s development.
Four openings for head coaches remain – Falcons, Commanders, Seahawks and Panthers. Slowik has been or will be interviewed two times by Atlanta, Washington and Carolina. He began his NFL coaching career under Mike Shanahan with the Commanders before relocating to the 49ers when Kyle Shanahan was hired as San Francisco’s head coach in 2017.
Johnson, who completed his first season as the quarterbacks coach, has interviewed with New Orleans and Cleveland to become an offensive coordinator.
After watching Slowik and Johnson closely this season, I believe they should stay with the Texans for one more season. I believe Slowik needs a second season as a coordinator and play-caller. I also believe Johnson needs a second season coaching quarterbacks, primarily Stroud, of course.
After his first season as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2021, Ryans was interviewed for head-coaching vacancies. He believed he needed a second season as a coordinator calling the defensive signals, so he stayed with the 49ers. Their defense was even better in 2022, which led to him receiving multiple offers before getting hired by the Texans.
Ryans was confident the 49ers would continue to win and that he hadn’t blown his opportunity to become a head coach for the first time. It was a wise move. They continued to be one of the NFL’s better teams, and Ryans was pursued by all five teams that had openings before being hired by the McNair family.
Slowik is in the same position as Ryans after his first season as the coordinator. With all due respect to Slowik, I don’t think he’s ready to be a head coach who calls plays. He did an excellent job overall, but he also made mistakes. The Texans need to improve their running game significantly next season, and there’s no reason to believe they won’t, not with Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio making the kind of personnel decisions that should improve the team.
Because Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons of any quarterback in NFL history, it stands to reason he could be even better next season. One season of experience will make Slowik a better play-caller. Trigger-happy owners fire and hire coaches every year, so there should be multiple opportunities for Slowik in 2025.
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If Slowik is offered a job and elects to accept it, Johnson could be promoted to offensive coordinator and call plays for the first time. Like Slowik, Johnson has the potential to become a head coach, but he has to be careful to make the right decisions when it comes to jobs.
For instance, if Johnson gets the job at New Orleans, he’ll be the play-caller working with veteran quarterback Derek Carr. Coach Dennis Allen is 16-18 in two seasons with the Saints and could be fired if he doesn’t make the playoffs next season. He was 8-28 as the Raiders’ head coach before getting fired. That doesn’t seem to be a good situation for Johnson.
If Johnson went to Cleveland, he’d work with Deshaun Watson, but he wouldn’t call plays. That responsibility belongs to coach Kevin Stefanski. Staying in Houston would be a much safer decision for Johnson. It might lead to replacing Slowik as the coordinator or help him up get another job next year.
If Slowik or Johnson or both leave the Texans after one season, everybody will wish them well. But if they decide to stay, they’ll be welcomed back with open arms, especially by Stroud, the most important player on the team who’s been quick to point out how important Slowik and Johnson were to his success as a rookie.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Monday, Thursday and Sunday on Texans Radio, also on SportsRadio 610. He writes five columns a week and does three Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.