Cole Popovich

Texans Announce New President, Other Staff Updates

February 5th, 2025 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

About two weeks ago, the Texans announced that they were parting ways with team president Greg Grissom after 23 years with the franchise. It didn’t take long for Houston to identify his replacement, announcing early the following week that Mike Tomon would be stepping into the role.

Tomon was a 2015 winner of the Sports Business Journal’s “40 under 40” award and was recognized as a Top 500 Business Leader by Dallas Magazine in 2024. Before all that, Tomon held senior roles with three NBA franchises (the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Bobcats, and Phoenix Suns) with a focus on premium ticketing, partnerships, and strategy, before serving as senior vice president of global partnerships at AEG. All of this led to his addition to Legends in 2014.

At Legends, where Tomon most recently served as co-president & chief operating officer, he was responsible for global operations, including domestic and international revenue generation. His time at Legends saw the company establish partnerships with soccer brands Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and FIFA, as well as the Rugby World Cup. He’s also been involved in commercial engagements for NFL venues like SoFi Stadium, Allegiant Stadium, Highmark Stadium, and The Star in Frisco. He also lent a hand with the 2024 Olympics in Paris and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Tomon’s myriad business experience will serve him well in his new role atop the team’s business operations. As team president, Tomon will be tasked with overseeing the direction and management of said operations, specifically with marketing, communications, broadcasting, ticket sales and services, event services, corporate sponsorship, community relations, accounting, legal, human resources, and general administration.

In addition to the announcement of their new team president, Ian Rapoport reported yesterday that assistant offensive line coach Cole Popovich has been promoted to offensive line coach and run game coordinator. This was a predictable outcome following the team’s firing of former offensive line coach Chris Strausser. Popovich had drawn offensive line coach interest a year ago from other teams, but the Texans were able to hold on to him as assistant offensive line coach with a “revamped contract.”

Lastly, we saw news yesterday from Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 that Rams senior offensive assistant Jerry Schuplinski is expected to be hired by Houston. Schuplinski is most notably known as a former assistant quarterbacks coach with the Patriots over Tom Brady. Since leaving New England, Schuplinski has bounced around with time as the Dolphins assistant quarterbacks coach, the Giants quarterbacks coach, and the Raiders tight ends coach before landing in Los Angeles last year. His experience could be valuable to a talented, young offensive group in Houston.

Chip Kelly Reportedly A Popular OC Target; Jaguars, Texans Interested

January 26th, 2025 at 8:31am CST by Rory Parks

Last offseason, former Eagles and 49ers head coach Chip Kelly interviewed at least twice for the Raiders’ offensive coordinator job, a job that ultimately went to Luke Getsy (who lasted only nine games in Las Vegas). Kelly could finally find his way back to the NFL this offseason, as sources tell Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports that the 61-year-old is at the top of the wishlist for several OC-needy teams.

Currently the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for Ohio State – which just captured the CFP National Championship – Kelly was a coveted head coaching candidate back when the Eagles hired him to replace Andy Reid in 2013. He guided that Philadelphia outfit to the playoffs and added a second straight 10-win campaign in 2014, despite losing starting QB Nick Foles to injury during the season. While that Eagles squad narrowly missed the playoffs, Kelly’s early success prompted owner Jeffery Lurie to demote Howie Roseman and let his HC run on-field and personnel operations in 2015. That made for a memorable year, one that ended with Kelly’s in-season ouster and Roseman being restored as GM. The 49ers hired Kelly as HC in 2016, but after a 2-14 season, the team made him a one-and-done and pivoted to Kyle Shanahan.

Kelly, who operated as the UCLA head coach from 2018-23 before heading to Columbus last year, has long wanted to return to the professional level, and this may be his time to do it. Sources say that the Jaguars are interested, and although Jones suggests that the Jacksonville job may not be a great fit – since new HC Liam Coen is likely to serve as the club’s offensive play-caller – the Texans could represent a viable landing spot.

After all, Kelly was Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans’ HC when Ryans was finishing out his playing career in Philadelphia, and since Ryans calls Houston’s defensive plays, Kelly could call the offense without interference. Jones and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirm prior reports indicating that Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson – who generated considerable external interest for OC positions last year – is also a strong option to replace the recently-fired Bobby Slowik.

Speaking of Slowik, who worked as Houston’s offensive coordinator for the first two years of Ryans’ HC tenure, his inability to develop as a play-caller and game plan builder is what cost him his job, as sources tell Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. While injuries to top wideouts Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell obviously undermined Slowik’s efforts, the coach was also criticized for his inability to adjust to opposing defenses. That contributed to more hits and sacks for quarterback C.J. Stroud, who regressed in his second pro season.

The offense as a whole took a significant step back from its 2023 production, which positioned Slowik as a popular name in last offseason’s head coaching carousel. Nonetheless, Wilson says the now-vacant OC gig is considered a desirable one given the presence of so many offensive standouts (including Stroud).

Like Jones and Rapoport, Wilson identifies Johnson as a legitimate candidate to replace Slowik, especially since he enjoys a strong relationship with his young signal-caller (the two began working together when Stroud was just 16).

“One thing that I can say about Jerrod, you talk about somehow who knows how to play the position of quarterback and knows how to relay something, but also just a great person, man,” Stroud said. “A guy who loves football, he loves Houston, he loves Texas. He loves his family, he’s a great family man. Someone who has just taught me a tremendous amount of information, but on top of that, put a lot of confidence into me as well.”

The Texans’ search is going to be a wide-ranging one, and as we noted previously, it may also include senior offensive assistant Bill Lazor and wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Ben McDaniels (though if Houston chooses to promote from within, McDaniels is not as likely as Johnson or Lazor to get the job). Wilson again mentions Saints OC Klint Kubiak as a logical external option.

Wilson is not as convinced as other reporters that Kelly wants to return to the NFL, but it’s worth noting that Ryans does think highly of his former head coach.

“[Kelly] was a master motivator, but he was always an innovator,” Ryans said shortly after he was hired by the Texans. “Chip Kelly, he was always on the cutting edge. Always looking for ways to get better with sports science, technology.”

When the Texans fired Slowik, they also canned offensive line coach Chris Strausser. Wilson and Rapoport say assistant OL coach Cole Popovich has a chance to replace Strausser, with Wilson adding that offensive assistants Jarrod James and Leander Wallace and defensive assistant Ryan Milus have seen their contracts expire and are unlikely to return.

AFC South Notes: Texans, Colts, Anderson

February 18th, 2024 at 7:22pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans were one of the NFL’s best surprises of the 2023 season, winning 10 games and making the playoffs with a rookie quarterback and head coach. DeMeco Ryans actually put together quite an impressive staff that would end up drawing lots of interest in from teams looking to fill vacant roles after the season came to an end. Luckily, though, Houston was able to beat off the suitors for two assistants.

Assistant offensive line coach Cole Popovich received interest from a few other teams, at one point interviewing for the offensive line coach job at Washington under new head coach Dan Quinn. Despite the outside interest, Popovich will remain in Houston “under a revamped contract,” per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.

Wilson also reported that safeties coach Stephen Adegoke was set to depart for the defensive backs coaching job at the University of Michigan. The next day, though, he issued a second report that Adegoke would instead return to Houston. Adegoke had reportedly accepted the Michigan job before finalizing a contract, so he will be able to come back for his second year with the Texans.

Here are a few other staff updates from around the AFC South:

Colts head coach Shane Steichen has had to do some shuffling for his 2024 staff. With the team’s decision not to retain assistant defensive backs coach Mike Mitchell, they have made the move to hire Titans defensive quality control coach Justin Hamilton in his place, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59. Indianapolis will also bring in Eagles quarterbacks coach Alex Tanney to serve as its passing game coordinator. Remaining in Philadelphia after Steichen’s departure, Tanney will now reunite with his former boss in Indianapolis.
The Titans have now completed the hiring of their new coordinators. Joining first-time coordinators Nick Holz on offense and Dennard Wilson on defense will be first-time special teams coordinator Colt Anderson, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Anderson, a former undrafted defensive back, saw plenty of time on special teams over his nine-year career in the NFL. After spending the last four seasons as an assistant special teams coach for the Bengals, Anderson will follow new Titans head coach Brian Callahan to Nashville for his first coordinator position.

Texans Finalize 2023 Coaching Staff

February 25th, 2023 at 9:20am CST by Ely Allen

The Texans have made changes to most of their coaching staff this offseason, following the hire of new head coach DeMeco Ryans and then the additions of offensive and defensive coordinators Bobby Slowik and Matt Burke. Houston has since announced that the finalization of its coaching staff for the 2023 season, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. We’ve covered several of the minor staff updates as they’ve happened in real time, but here are the final updates that we have not yet reported.

On the offensive side of the ball, Houston announced a few names from former head coach Lovie Smith‘s staff that have been retained under Ryans. Running backs coach Danny Barrett will be sticking around after coaching rookie running back Dameon Pierce to an impressive first season of play. Also being retained are offensive assistants Jarrod James and DeNarius McGhee. McGhee has been with the team in this position since 2020, while James joined the staff last year.

Three other coaches were officially hired to the offensive staff. We had seen rumors that former Colts offensive line coach Chris Strausser was the favorite to coach the same position for Ryans in Houston, and that rumor was confirmed today as he was announced with the finalized staff. Also announced was assistant offensive line coach Cole Popovich, who hasn’t coached in the NFL since he parted ways with the Patriots in 2021. He spent last year as the offensive line coach at Troy. Lastly, Ryans and Slowik have brought on Bill Lazor as a senior offensive assistant. Lazor didn’t coach last year after being fired by the Bears but brings experience as someone who’s been an offensive coordinator for three NFL franchises.

On the defensive side of the ball, Houston kept a few mores names from Smith’s former staff. Cornerbacks coach Dino Vasso will return to coach a talented group that includes veterans Steven Nelson, Desmond King, and Tavierre Thomas, as well as youngster Derek Stingley. Ryans has also chosen to retain defensive assistant Ben Bolling. Other defensive assistants Ilir Emini and Dele Harding were not retained by Ryans and Burke. Lastly on defense, it had been rumored that former 49ers defensive passing game specialist and secondary coach Cory Undlin would be reuniting with Ryans in a similar role with the Texans. This latest announcement shows that Undlin will not have a position coaching role but has been officially hired as the team’s defensive pass-game coordinator.

There are a few more updates to wrap things up. We knew that special teams coordinator Frank Ross was being retained in Ryans’s new staff, but now we have word that assistant special teams coordinator Sean Baker will also be sticking around. We also have the official title for former Kent State director of football operations and Yale chief of staff Jake Olson. He will serve as assistant to the coaches in Houston. Lastly, Smith’s special assistant to the head coach for football performance, Tobijah Hughley, has not been retained under Ryans’ new staff.

There it is. The Texans are now ready to herald a new era under Ryans and his staff. The teams needs a lot of work following a 3-13-1 season, and now Ryans has the group of coaches on which he’ll rely to usher in this new age of Texans football.

Patriots Co-Offensive Line Coach Off Staff Due To COVID-19 Policy

July 23rd, 2021 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following Rick Dennison‘s departure from the Vikings due to a COVID-19 vaccine refusal, the Patriots will also part ways with one of their offensive line coaches.

Co-offensive line coach Cole Popovich is off the Patriots’ staff, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe reports. Popovich is gone due to his refusal to comply with the NFL’s vaccine policy, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com adds (on Twitter). Popovich and Carmen Bricillo worked as co-O-line coaches in New England last season, but McBride adds the latter will helm the position solo this year.

Popovich, 36, has been with the Patriots since 2016. He broke into the NFL on Bill Belichick‘s staff and moved up to assistant running backs coach in 2019. In 2020, the Pats promoted he and Bricillo to fill the void created by famed O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia‘s retirement. Popovich’s NFL career is now in limbo.

In order to work with players, coaches must be vaccinated. The NFL has not required players to be vaccinated, but staffers — in order to qualify for Tier 1 or Tier 2 status — must either do so or provide medical or religious grounds for refusing. Teams are not permitted to cut players because of their refusal to be vaccinated, though they can jettison unvaccinated players for other reasons. However, no such rule is in place for coaches. NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said Friday nearly 100% of NFL staffs are vaccinated, so it will be interesting to see if any additional coaches are moved off staff in the coming days.