Report: Ken Whisenhunt On The Texans Radar

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that league sources have informed him that the Houston Texans have Chargers OC and former Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt “squarely on the radar” for their head coaching vacancy.

• Schefter adds that Houston is expected to interview Whisenhunt at the “soonest chance possible.”
• Mike Freeman reports that an NFL source has informed him that the Texans are not going to want to bring in Redskins HC Mike Shanahan, assuming he’s released, because he would be considered “damaged goods.”

The Texans are believed to be targeting options with previous NFL coaching experience, so Whisenhunt clearly fits that requirement. Whisenhunt has actually done a very good job with the Chargers offense this season and has Phillip Rivers playing at high level again after a very disappointing 2012 season.

“If you look at the record, defensive coordinators have been more successful than offensive coordinators, but not by a large percentage,” Texans owner Bob McNair said of their coaching search on Friday, per Tania Ganguli. “It’s going to be based more on the individual. We’re looking for a coach that is bright, ethical, who’s culture fits in with the culture of our organization, innovative, flexible, able to make adjustments, works with great energy and enthusiasm and very positive in his approach. Surely that person is out there and we’ll find that person.”

The list of speculative coaching options for the Texans is actually quite long with Lovie Smith, Stanford HC David Shaw and Texans interim HC Wade Phillips some of the more notable names being mentioned.