The Texans were the last team to hire their head coach, so David Culley got a bit of a late start in building his staff. Now he’s wasting no time, making a couple of hires this week. Most importantly he’s settled on a special teams coordinator, hiring Colts assistant Frank Ross to fill that position, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Ross is a former Patriots scout who went to small school John Carroll University, which has become a feeder school for NFL coaches. Houston also hired Dino Vasso to be their new secondary coach, Wilson tweets. Vasso spent the past eight seasons as an assistant with the Eagles.
Here are some more coaching updates from around the league:
- Zach Orr is going to be back on an NFL sideline. An UDFA linebacker in 2014, he became a full-time starter with the Ravens and was a second-team All-Pro in 2016. Unfortunately that would be his final season, as a spinal condition cut his career short prematurely. Orr stayed with Baltimore in a front office role, and now he’s getting into coaching as Urban Meyer’s new linebackers coach with the Jaguars, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets. Still only 28, it’ll be great to see Orr back on the field in some capacity.
- Robert Saleh continues to build his inaugural Jets staff, and he has now hired Mike Rutenberg to be his linebackers coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL Neetwork tweets. Rutenberg was a passing game specialist under Saleh in San Francisco this past season, and before that had been an assistant with the Jaguars.
- Orr isn’t the only notable former player getting back with an NFL team. Pro Football Hall of Famer Kevin Mawae will be joining the NFL coaching ranks as well. Mawae has been hired to be an assistant offensive line coach on Frank Reich’s Colts staff, Stephen Holder of The Athletic tweets. Mawae had been an analyst under Herm Edwards at Arizona State, and he told Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that he had been hoping to land an NFL opportunity. The legendary former center spent 16 years in the league with the Seahawks, Jets, and Titans. He made eight Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro seven times during his playing days.
Wonder if a 3 team trade would work for the Texans and Dolphins since Texans don’t want Tua. Maybe Atlanta.
Say
Texans get #3, #4, Miami 2022 1st and 4th, 2023 2nd and 3rd.
Miami gets Watson
Atlanta gets Tua, the #18 from miami, and #35 pick from miami
Texans nab the 3rd and 4th pick in the draft
Dolphins nab Watson
Atlanta picks up Tua to replace Ryan in a year or so, a first rounder this year, and an early 2nd rounder.
The man wants to go to the Jets. Plus Houston has NO interest in trading Waston for anything. So Don’t waste your time. As a Jets fan, it won’t happen ether. He will be on the Texans for the next 4 years.
Vinman66. Him being a Texan the next 4 years is funny stuff right there.
As a Texan fan, I’d take that right now.
Special Teams Coordinator garners a “most importantly”?