David Culley is expected to be fired by the Houston Texans, FOX Sports reported Sunday.
General manager Nick Caserio didn’t directly answer questions about Culley’s status last week. When pressed about whether Culley could return, Caserio said all personnel decisions would be made in the offseason.
FOX reported New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, a longtime co-worker of Caserio with the Patriots, is the top candidate in Houston.
Culley is in his first season as a head coach and was hired during a tumultuous offseason by the Texans. He previously served as wide receivers coach under John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens.
The 66-year-old Culley had never been a head coach at the college or professional levels during a coaching career that began in 1978.
Culley was the oldest coach in NFL history at the time of his debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Bud Wilkinson (62 years, 133 days) had held that distinction from his 29-game stint with the then-St. Louis Cardinals in 1978-79.
The Texans’ decision to tab Culley as head coach in January came under extra scrutiny because franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson had made known his unhappiness regarding player and front-office moves in the past few seasons. Watson reportedly was upset that the Texans said he could have input into offseason decisions, but the team didn’t follow through.
With Watson under investigation by police in Houston and the subject of civil lawsuits by 22 women following allegations of sexual misconduct, the quarterback was inactive for all 17 games this season. NFL Network reported Sunday that the Texans want to trade Watson before the 2022 league year begins on March 16.
–Field Level Media