Another finalist has emerged in the Texans’ head coaching search. Brian Flores is conducting a second interview today, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
[Related: Texans Giving Josh McCown Second Interview]
Like many second interviews this year, this one will be in person, as opposed to being conducted virtually. Overall, though, Pelissero notes that “the sides have spoken multiple times”. The 40-year-old has ties to general manager Nick Caserio dating back to their time together in New England. That Patriots-Caserio connection has, of course, led to both Flores and Pats linebackers coach Jerod Mayo being listed as favorites once they were announced as candidates.
Instead, the two others that have already received second interviews are former quarterback Josh McCown and Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Houston is currently the only team to have had interest in McCown so far, while Gannon has also met with the Broncos and Vikings.
The biggest domino in Houston, regardless of the new head coach, is quarterback Deshaun Watson. Many feel that Flores’ hiring would be the only way the maligned signal caller could remain with the Texans, given their desire to work together. While Houston still intends to trade Watson, Flores’ presence as a finalist for the HC job certainly raises the possibility of things taking another turn.
Stop with the “desire to work together ” nonsense, they don’t even have each other’s phone numbers.
In his suit, Flores claims that ownership pressured him into acquiring “a high profile quarterback” against his wishes. The source for the rumor regarding Flores and Watson is Miami, so I don’t know how much of this is true or not true.
Of course, Flores also claims that ownership offered to pay $100,000 more per loss to tank, the purpose of which seems to conflict with the push to acquire Watson, so I dunno.
Tomorrow they’ll have a panic attack and offer the job to Bill O’Brian. It’s the most Texans thing they can do.
Be the minute I’d stop being a fan. The Hopkins trade tested how strong a fan I was, but that would be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Didn’t Watson say he won’t play for a team that has Jack Easterby in the front office?
He never said anything about Easterby specifically. The only quote about Easterby from Watson I found is from November of 2020, when he said that Easterby was new and he didn’t see him much and had to get to know him. I just looked around to see what I could find, but pretty much everything about Easterby comes from anonymous sources and Sports Illustrated. It’s hard to find some solid, quotable facts about that in either direction.