Texans Fire Senior VP Chris Olsen, Could Still Pursue Patriots Exec. Nick Caserio

According to Aaron Wilson, the Texans have fired senior VP of football administration Chris Olsen. 

Olsen was Houston’s primary contract negotiator and worked in tandem with HC Bill O’Brien, VP of team development Jack Easterby and director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan in Houston’s unique front office structure following the dismissal of GM Brian Gaine. 

It’s somewhat of an unexpected move given O’Brien’s statement that he didn’t expect the Texans to change their front office structure in 2020. Wilson mentions Olsen’s assistant, football administration coordinator Kevin Krajcovic, as someone who will now work with O’Brien to manage the salary cap. 

Houston has several major contract decisions coming up this offseason, with QB Deshaun Watson and LT Laremy Tunsil eligible for extensions and DT D.J. Reader slated to hit free agency. 

Per Wilson, league sources also expect Patriots executive Nick Caserio to still end up with the Texans following the expiration of his contract with New England in May.

Houston reportedly identified Caserio last offseason as the prime target to replace Gaine, but dropped its pursuit of Caserio after New England filed tampering charges. 

The Texans interviewed a few other candidates but ultimately elected to go into 2019 without a general manager. 

Olsen has been with the Texans for the past 13 years. Prior to joining Houston, he worked in the NFL office as a manager of labor operations, reviewing contracts to ensure they complied with the CBA. 

Caserio, 43, got into coaching back in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Saginaw Valley State. He spent three years coaching in college before the Patriots hired him as an offensive coaching assistant in 2002.

Caserio later took a personnel assistant job and worked his way up to director of player personnel in 2008 and has remained in the position ever since.

We’ll have more regarding the Texans front office as the news is available .