Texans

Texans HC Bill O’Brien Adds General Manager To His Title

January 28, 2020

According to Mark Berman, Texans HC Bill O’Brien has added general manager to his title.

Houston also promoted Jack Easterby to VP of football operations. Easterby was hired last year as the team’s VP of team development.

Here’s a statement from Texans owner Cal McNair regarding the moves:

“Preparations are underway for the 2020 season and I thought it was important to update titles, roles and responsibilities for Bill O’Brien and Jack Easterby so they more accurately reflect the way we have been operating for the past eight months. I was encouraged by the progress that our team made on the field this year which was due in part to our new structure, operating approach and the leaders within our football operations group. I am proud that we provided our fans with many thrilling victories at home, including a playoff win, and we delivered another double-digit win season. Our fans deserve that, but now it is time for the organization to get back to work toward our pursuit of a world championship for the city of Houston.”

O’Brien has served as Houston’s de facto general manager since the Texans fired former GM Brian Gaine last summer, so this just provides an official title to his role.

While many believed Houston would take another crack at recruiting Patriots exec Nick Caserio as their future GM once his contract expired with New England this offseason, it looks like the Texans will maintain their unique organizational structure moving forward.

Houston has made a number of other front office moves this offseason, including firing cap manager Chris Olsen a few weeks ago. The moves have been seen as O’Brien and Easterby tightening their grip on power in the organization.

O’Brien, 50, was hired by the Texans back in 2014 after spending a few years at Penn State. He signed a five-year contract extension back in 2018.

In six seasons in Houston, O’Brien has accumulated a record of 52-44 (54.2 percent) with four playoff appearances. The Texans are 2-4 in the playoffs under O’Brien.