Houston Texans Coaching News: Hines Ward, Joe Lombardi Interviewed

The 2022 Houston Texans’ head coach search is starting off similarly to the 2021 Houston Texans’ head coach search. If you forgot, the Texans rightfully fired Bill O’Brien after an 0-4 start so they could get an early start on finding a new head coach. Yet they were the last team to hire one. During that process, they interviewed numerous coaches, threw out a wide net, talked to their old pals in New England, and ended up with David Culley.

A season later, after firing the guy they hired in less than a calendar year, Houston is off to a roaring start. They interviewed Brian Flores, as was previously reported here, and have now interviewed former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Hines Ward. Ward was a wide receivers coach in New York (Jets) and is currently the special assistant to the head coach at Florida Atlantic University. Sure. The Texans are trying to find their own Mike Tomlin.

Houston also interviewed Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who runs a quick pass efficient offense but refuses to fit his offense to his personnel, utilizing the same attack despite having downfield passing demons like Matthew Stafford and Justin Herbert.

As of right now, it feels like this will be a longer interview process. It’s been reported by Aaron Wilson that both the Texans and established head coaches like Flores, Doug Pederson, and Dan Quinn are going to take their time to make the best decision possible.

After the New England Patriots were slaughtered by the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night, the Texans should be prepared to interview Jarod Mayo and Josh McDaniels. Brian Daboll, Eric Bieniemy, Leslie Frazier, Byron Leftwich, and Todd Bowles will also be available to talk once their teams’ postseason run comes to a close.

The Texans’ head coaching search has already resulted in a few surprising candidates. Get ready. Because there are going to be more.