Texans Considering Sticking With Interim HC Romeo Crennel In 2021?

According to Ian Rapoport, the Texans are considering sticking with interim HC Romeo Crennel as their guy in 2021. 

Rapoport says Houston is debating turning to Crennel full-time in order to allow the team to push its true coaching search to 2021. 

There is some concern the pandemic could affect the traditional coaching cycle this year and impact meeting with candidates in person. Rapoport notes the Texans and potentially other teams could be wary about hiring a coach they’re not able to meet in person. 

Crennel has significant head coaching experience in the past and is well-liked and respected by the players, making him a candidate well-suited to the job if the Texans elect to go in this direction. 

However, John McClain reports that the Texans plan to hire both a new head coach and a new GM next year with the general manager job being the first to be filled. According to McClain, Texans owner Cal McNair has his search committee and his ad hoc committee already in place. 

Crennel, 73, began his NFL coaching career with the Giants back in 1981 as their special teams coach. He later took jobs with the Patriots, Jets and Browns before returning to New England in 2001 as their defensive coordinator.

After four seasons with the Patriots, Crennel was hired as the Browns’ head coach. Unfortunately, he was later fired after four years with the team.

Crennel spent a few years with the Chiefs as their defensive coordinator and interim head coach before the Texans hired as their defensive coordinator in 2014. Houston made the decision to promote Mike Vrabel in 2017 before moving Crennel back to coordinator in 2018. He had stepped down as defensive coordinator this year but remained on staff as the assistant head coach and was promoted to interim HC once Bill O’Brien was fired. 

Crennel has led the Texans to a record of 2-2 since taking over this year.