Former Texans GM and head coach Bill O'Brien appears to be interested in returning to the NFL.
O'Brien, now the offensive coordinator of the Alabama Crimson Tide following his midseason dismissal by Houston last year, will interview next week with the Jacksonville Jaguars for their head coaching vacancy, according to multiple reports.
The apparent development seemed to come as surprise to Jaguars insiders, including beat reporter John Reid of the Florida Times Union.
O'Brien, 52, is slated to call plays for Alabama's offense in Monday's College Football Playoff national title game, against the conference rival Georgia Bulldogs. He was brought to Tuscaloosa by head coach Nick Saban, who hired him in the offseason following his sacking by the Texans in October 2020.
The Jaguars are seeking a replacement for former head coach Urban Meyer, who went 2-11 through 13 games before he was dismissed just several months into a five-year contract. Meyer was replacing former head coach Doug Marrone -- now Alabama's offensive line coach.
O'Brien was 52-48 in six-plus seasons at the helm in Houston, and went 2-4 in six postseason games. The Texans won four division titles but failed to reach a conference championship game under the former Patriots offensive coordinator and Penn State head coach.
O'Brien was revealed to have tested positive for coronavirus late last month -- along with Marrone -- but returned to coach in the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Cincinnati Bearcats.
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