Report: Houston Texans are 'moving towards' making head coaching hire

Lovie Smith may soon be a head coach again.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Houston Texans are “moving towards” hiring Smith – the team’s current associate head coach and defensive coordinator – as their next head coach. While Rapoport notes that no deal is done yet, the NFL insider says that it’s “headed that way.”

Smith, 63, recently completed his first season with the Texans after spending five seasons at the head coach at Illinois from 2016-2020. Prior to his time at Illinois, Smith served as the head coach of both the Chicago Bears (2004-12) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15).

Over his two stints as an NFL head coach with the Bears and Buccaneers, Smith holds an overall record of 92-90 – including a 3-3 mark in postseason play. He was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2005.

Report: Houston Texans narrowing in on surprise candidate

The Houston Texans are in talks with former NFL and college head coach Lovie Smith to become head coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Texas native spent the past season as associate head coach and defensive coordinator with the franchise.

Smith spent time as a head coach with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2004-2015 and now could get another opportunity with the Houston Texans. The 63-year old coach made one Super Bowl appearance and won the 2005 NFL Coach of the Year award on his way to an 89-87 record.

After his stint with the Buccaneers, Smith moved into the college ranks at Illinois. In five seasons in the Big Ten, he went 17-39 and made just one bowl appearance in 2019.

Schefter further reports that Smith has been in discussions with the Texans since the decision to move on from David Culley, but his candidacy gained significant steam in recent days. He later tweeted that the Texans “still believe” former quarterback Josh McCown will one day be a “great head coach.”