The firing of Bobby Slowik didn’t come easy for Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans following a divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ryans, a former Pro Bowl linebacker, planned on getting into coaching after he hung up the cleats in 2015. He joined the San Francisco 49ers staff in 2017, sharing a small office with his future offensive play-caller in Houston.
But the NFL can be cruel. A year after being one of the more sought-after candidates for a head coaching position, Slowik was rumored to be on the hot seat as regression set in for second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Ryans didn’t ignore the feedback he received from key offensive players, taking that into account as part of his evaluation. After outweighing the pros and cons, it was evident change was needed for Houston to move past a second weekend in January.
“It was very hard to let Bobby go,” Ryans said Thursday at NRG Stadium during Caley’s introductory press conference. “Bobby’s a really close friend, as you all know, Bobby’s a great friend of mine.
“Nothing but love and admiration for Bobby and what he’s done. I know he’ll be a really good coach in this league as he continues to press forward in his career. And I wish him nothing but the best.”
#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said it was ‘Really hard’ to move on from Bobby Slowik @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/TrVpqIehQg
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 13, 2025
The Texans are starting over on offense with new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. After spending two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams as the tight ends coach and pass-game coordinator, Caley looks to transcend Houston’s offense into an AFC juggernaut as Stroud enters his third season.
As for Slowik, he’s already landed on his feet since Caley’s hiring, reuniting with former 49ers offensive coordinator and current Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as the team’s senior passing game coordinator.
While the Texans made some strides offensively, setbacks stalled Houston from advancing over a 10-7 finish for the second straight year. Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon stabilized the ground game with his 1,000-yard performance, but the passing attack struggled to find consistency.
#Texans HC DeMeco Ryans: “It was very hard to let Bobby Slowik go. He’s a close friend of mine. When I got into coaching he helped me figure things out. We wish him the best.”
— Cole Thompson (@MrColeThompson) February 13, 2025
Stroud’s struggles factored into the call. A year after throwing for over 4,000 yards and averaging 22.2 points per game, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year threw 12 interceptions. The Texans also averaged 21,1 points per game and gave up 54 sacks.
“We’ve had a lot of good success these first two years,” Ryans said. “The reason we’re doing this is I think there’s another level that we can go to. And as I said earlier, my job is to take this organization to new heights, and I think hiring Nick will help us to get there.”
Caley, who previously worked with Matthew Stafford, has a vision to help Stroud reach new heights. Slowik might have laid down the foundation but Caley must unlock the next level of Stroud’s potential that resonates with his 2023 film for 2025 and beyond.
Nick Caley on CJ Stroud
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— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) February 13, 2025
“He can spin it. He throws the ball,” Caley said. “He’s an accurate thrower of the football. He is a natural thrower of the football. He’s instinctive. He’s got the ‘it’ factor. And he’s a warrior in terms of his competitiveness. I’ve admired him dating back to his college days. So, I’m really, really excited to have an opportunity to work with him.”