Make that two Texans assistants who are staying put. Minutes after reaching an agreement to retain Bobby Slowik, the Texans have a deal to keep Jerrod Johnson. The team’s quarterbacks coach is staying, CBS Sports Jonathan Jones reports.
Entering Tuesday in contention for the Saints and Buccaneers’ jobs, Johnson will pass and commit to working with C.J. Stroud again. This has turned into an important day for the Texans, who have ensured their top two offensive assistants will stay. Johnson agreed to an extension that includes a raise, according to Jones and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
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Keeping the Slowik-Johnson-Stroud trio together for a second season, the Texans will attempt to build on their 13th-place offensive finish this season. DVOA slotted Houston’s offense 14th — a massive improvement from the past two seasons. The Texans finished the 2021 and ’22 slates 30th offensively, seeing their Stroud investment effectively transform a downtrodden team.
After bringing Slowik with him from San Francisco, DeMeco Ryans hired Johnson from Kevin O’Connell‘s Minnesota staff. Johnson was on the quality control level during the 2021 season, moving up the ladder twice in the past two years. The Vikings employed Johnson, 36, as their assistant QBs coach during a 13-4 season. That garnered the former quarterback interest on the 2023 OC carousel. Stroud’s performance naturally led to more Johnson OC meetings. In addition to speaking with the Bucs and Saints (twice), Johnson met with the Steelers, Eagles, Patriots and Browns.
Although Stroud ranked 15th in QBR, he led the NFL in INT rate. The Ohio State product threw 499 passes and just five INTs, sprinkling in 23 TD tosses for a Texans team that nearly matched its win total from 2020-22. The 10-7 team then won a playoff game, routing the Browns. Averaging 8.2 yards per attempt, Stroud’s 273.9 yards per game led the NFL.
New Orleans took the rare step of interviewing Johnson twice; the young assistant joins ex-Bears OC Luke Getsy in being summoned for a second meeting. Tampa Bay is conducting an expansive search to replace Dave Canales, who became a one-and-done after landing the Panthers’ HC job. Johnson interviewed for the Bucs job today. The Bucs have now seen four of their candidates exit the race. It is logical Johnson will regroup and look into OC interviews again in 2025.
Considering Stroud’s standing as one of the NFL’s best young talents, it makes sense for Johnson to join Slowik in staying put. Stroud playing well again in 2024 will undoubtedly generate more HC interest for Slowik and OC interest for Johnson. The latter would also seemingly be a coordinator candidate in Houston if Slowik booked a head coaching job elsewhere next year.