When it comes to choosing an NFL head coaching job, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans was picky. He wouldn’t take just any head coaching vacancy.
One year after being involved in multiple coaching searches, including the Minnesota Vikings, the former Pro Bowl linebacker set his sights on coming home and signed a six-year lucrative contract with the Texans to become the sixth head coach in franchise history instead of joining the Denver Broncos.
Ryans, 39, a former NFL Assistant Coach of the Year with the San Francisco 49ers as the architect of a top-ranked defense, is advising Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik to proceed with caution as he draws interest from NFL teams for their head coaching vacancies.
The Carolina Panthers have requested an interview with Slowik for their head coaching vacancy. The Washington Commanders, one of Slowik’s former employers, have interest in interviewing Slowik, who’s also on the Tennessee Titans’ list of interviews, per a league source.
“Yeah, my advice to Bobby is to be selective,” Ryans said. “You only get one opportunity to do it, and you want to make sure you’re selective and that you’re going to – if you get the opportunity – going to a place that you feel like you can be effective.”
Slowik, in his first year running an NFL offense, has been instrumental in the development of NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Slowik, 36, has previously been a passing game coordinator with the 49ers. He also worked at Pro Football Focus as an analyst.
By devoting himself to preparations for a Saturday playoff game against the Browns, Slowik is staying focused on the task at hand.
“Yeah, it’s really easy to handle right now, we’re locked in on Cleveland,” Slowik said. “We’re full speed ahead, kind of keeping our head down in the dark. All of that stuff, I’m very grateful. I’m thankful to the Lord for giving me this opportunity. I’m thankful to Nick [Caserio] and DeMeco and the Texans organization for putting me in this position, but right now, I’m a Houston Texan.
“I’m part of this organization and I’m going to do everything I can to help us win Cleveland. Everyone’s energy right now in this organization is devoted to, ‘How do we play one more game?’ How do we keep playing just one more game? We really have, what I believe is a special group of individuals. I know offensively there’s guys in that room that I just can’t imagine having to do this without right now.”
Slowik worked in the same office as Ryans when they were with the 49ers and they have risen in the coaching ranks together.
The Texans, with Slowik calling the plays, have improved to 12th in total offense after finishing 31st last season with Pep Hamilton running the offense. They rank 13th in scoring offense, averaging 22.2 points per game and Stroud had the top touchdown to interception ratio in the league with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. The Texans are seventh in passing offense.
“With me, selecting Bobby as the offensive coordinator, Bobby is a guy that I’ve known since I’ve been in coaching,” Ryans said. “I’ve known him, I’ve worked with him for six years we’ve worked together. We’re both ‘QCs’ [quality control coaches] together, so we were both ground level guys, just grinding. Bobby is just a guy who is very detail-oriented in everything that he does. He’s a very smart guy.
“Off the field, just family man – really great father, great husband. Just a trustworthy guy and Bobby has done a tremendous job with everything that’s been asked of him. He’s done a great job with it and I’m happy to have Bobby onboard. He’s done a great job all year. We wouldn’t be here where we are standing today without Bobby and his entire staff and what they’ve done.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.
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