Texans Agree To Deal With Lovie Smith As Next Head Coach

HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Texans have agreed to terms with defensive coordinator Lovie Smith to be their next head coach, the team announced Tuesday.

The Texans hired Smith for his track record in developing players "on and off the field" as well as his pedigree as a leader and winner, Texans General Manager Nick Caserio said in a statement.

"Lovie has both the leadership and people skills it takes to lead us forward," Caserio said. He added that he and Smith understand the challenge before them in building the Texans back into a contender but are confident they can build a team with "sustained success."

Culley was fired last month after just one season, leading the Texans to a 4-13 record while dealing with distractions stemming from trade demands and sexual assault allegations surrounding star quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Smith was the Texans' defensive coordinator for the 2021 season after being fired as the head coach at Illinois, a position he held from 2016-'20.

Smith coached the Chicago Bears from 2004-'12 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2014-'15. He led the Bears to Super Bowl XLI at the end of the 2006 season, where they lost to the Peyton Manning-led Colts. Smith has 89-87 career record as an NFL head coach.

The NFL coaching carousel has been under a microscope this offseason as former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, who was previously seen as a top candidate for the Texans job, filed a lawsuit against the NFL with claims of racial discrimination in its hiring practices for head coaches and general mangers. Both Culley and Smith are Black.