The Houston Texans won’t need to find a new offensive coordinator this offseason, as Bobby Slowik will return to Houston under a new contract that will feature a significant raise, according to a league source.
Slowik, who arrived in Houston in 2023 by way of the San Francisco 49ers, received second interviews for head-coaching vacancies with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders in recent weeks. He also interviewed with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.
Under Slowik’s coordination, the Texans ranked fifth in the league in passing yards and improved from 31st in offensive yards in 2022 to 12th in 2023. His leadership of No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud garnered league-wide praise, as Stroud put together one of the best rookie passing seasons in NFL history while taking the Texans to the playoffs.
Slowik joined Detroit Lions’ Ben Johnson as the second offensive coordinator of the day to stay put with their respective teams despite receiving multiple interviews. Johnson was considered a front-runner for the Commanders opening and had also interviewed with Seattle Seahawks, among three other teams.
Texans quarterback coach Jerrod Johnson will also be returning to Houston, per multiple reports. He had previously interviewed for offensive coordinator roles.
Houston’s major victory
Much like Johnson’s decision to stay on as the offensive coordinator in Detroit, this is a massive offseason victory for the Texans, who are fresh off finishing with as many wins in 2023 (11) as they did in the previous three seasons combined. Central to the turnaround, beyond Coach of the Year candidate DeMeco Ryans and Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner Stroud, was Slowik, a first-time coordinator whose aggressive play calling helped Houston climb from 30th in points each of the previous two seasons all the way up to 13th in 2023.
His return, for at least another year, will be vital for Stroud, who’s coming off one of the most prolific rookie seasons in league history — he finished with the third-most passing yards ever by a rookie quarterback. — Zak Keefer, national NFL writer
Required reading
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