With the 2021 NFL season coming to an end, “Black Monday” and beyond is a “thing.” The Houston Texans have their David Culley decision following a lackluster year, and other teams will spent from now throughout the offseason making big decisions.
Who else is on the hot seat? Who will receive a pink slip? Follow along with TexansDaily.com for up-to-date information on all the moves.
MAR 1 NEW RB COACH CANDIDATE? In search of a new running backs coach to fill the void left by recently promoted Thomas Brown, the Los Angeles Rams have begun to target various names across the country, including a pair of rising stars in the college game in TCU’s Ra’Shaad Samples, and most recently, Memphis’ Anthony Jones Jr.
Jones has been with the Tigers since the 2017 season and has helped his team reach five-consecutive bowl games in that time.
So far during his tenure in Memphis, Jones accumulated some impressive honors, including a selection for the AFCA 35 Under 35 Leadership Institute, and the 2022 NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy.
In his first two seasons as the running backs coach, the Tigers got off to an impressive start, rushing for 6,533 yards and 78 touchdowns under his tutelage.
Jones has also played a major role in getting his players to the NFL, including Darrell Henderson, Tony Pollard, Kenneth Gainwell, and many more.
Anthony Jones
Anthony Jones
Anthony Jones
FEB 20 COACH PHILLIPS Wes Phillips is continuing a rich family football tradition, the grandson of Bum Phillips, son of Wade Phillips and former Dallas Cowboys assistant now joining the Minnesota Vikings as their new offensive coordinator under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Phillips has been on the Rams staff, where McConnell was recently as Los Angeles won the Super Bowl.
Wes, 42, a native of Houston, was in Dallas from 2007 to 2013 in a variety of roles, including time when dad Wade, now 74, was the Cowboys head coach.
Grandfather Bum was of course a legendary former Houston Oilers coach.
FEB 19 FLORES HIRED The Steelers have named Brian Flores as their senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach.
Flores was most recently the head coach of the Miami Dolphins and in the wake of his recent firing – and his job interviews for head coaching positions that did not come to fruition, including in Houston – has filed a lawsuit against the NFL claiming racial injustices in the league’s hiring practices.
“I am excited about Brian Flores joining our coaching staff given his history of developing and teaching defensive players during his time in the NFL,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “Brian’s resume speaks for itself, and I look forward to him adding his expertise to help our team.”
JAN 25 PAYTON’S LAST CALL
Following Tuesday’s news, the New Orleans Saints enter the conversation for a new head coach. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Sean Payton has informed the Benson family that he will be “stepping away” from the team after 16 seasons. According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Payton is retiring and will not be interested in coaching as of this time.
Hired in 2006, Payton, 58, became one of the two faces to transform the Saints from one of the league’s worst teams into a stable organization. Teamed with future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints became one of the NFC’s best franchises, finishing with nine seasons of 10-plus wins and nine playoff appearances during that span.
This past season without Brees, the Saints finished 9-8, missing the postseason for the first time since 2016. Jameis Winston was expected to replace Brees, but a torn ACL in Week 8 cost him the remainder of the season, leading New Orleans into playing four different quarterbacks over the 17-game period.
Payton finishes his time with the Saints with a 152-89 record and a Super Bowl win in 2009. Multiple reports suggest that the Dallas Cowboys could be interested in firing Mike McCarthy in order to bring Payton over after an early Wild Card Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers earlier this month.
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