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Just saw this come across Twitter, thanks to the intrepid Mark Berman:
Bill Kollar says the Texans have allowed him to leave the club and join the Broncos as defensive line coach for Gary Kubiak.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 23, 2015
Bill Kollar leaves Texans to coach Denver DL: "I've got 2grandsons that live there. Great opportunity to be coaching where my grandsons are.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 23, 2015
Bill Kollar leaves Texans 2coach Broncos DL: "It's a great place.Definitely a tough decision.It made it a lot easier w/ my 2grandsons there"
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 23, 2015
Texans allow Bill Kollar 2join Broncos.Has family there:"I thought it was really nice of O'Brien.He realized how important my family is 2me"
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 23, 2015
Bill O'Brien allows Texans DL coach Bill Kollar 2join Broncos.Has family there:"He knows how it is having 2sons of his own.I appreciate him"
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 23, 2015
Texans DL coach Bill Kollar joins Broncos: "I was with Gary (Kubiak) for 5 years here. He does a great job. He's a heck of a guy."
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 23, 2015
Bill Kollar on leaving @JJWatt: "Tough. U got the best player around. When I talked 2him today he understood w/my grandsons being out there"
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 23, 2015
After being hired by Gary Kubiak to run the Texans' defensive line back in 2009, Kollar was one of only two assistant coaches not relieved of their duties when the Texans hired Bill O'Brien in January of 2014. The simple fact that Kollar was retained after a 2-14 train wreck is a testament to how highly he was thought of. Add to that fact that J.J. Watt has repeatedly professed his appreciation for Kollar, and this becomes an even tougher pill to swallow. Add to those truths that Bill Kollar once wrestled a freaking bear, and my heart is breaking tonight.
Best of luck to Coach Kollar as he embarks upon a new chapter in Denver and reunites with Kubes. And kudos to Bill O'Brien for letting one of his coaches leave to be closer to his family.
The attention of the fan base will now turn to speculating about who O'Brien will hire to replace Kollar as the Texans' defensive line coach.