Rex Grossman - Pro Football Rumors

Texans Considering Lovie Smith For HC

February 6th, 2022 at 8:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite reports that the Texans had narrowed their list of candidates down to journeyman quarterback Josh McCown and former Dolphins’ head coach Brian Flores, Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported that current defensive coordinator and associate head coach Lovie Smith is now in talks with Houston about potentially becoming their next head coach. Smith interviewed with the team earlier tonight, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This is the second time Smith has been considered for the Texans’ head coach position, the first time being when he interviewed with the team in December 2013 prior to accepting the head coaching job in Tampa Bay.

Smith has spent 16 of the last 18 years as a head coach at some level. After three years of coaching at the high school level, Smith spent the next 13 years bouncing around the NCAA as a position coach with stops at Tulsa, Wisconsin, Arizona State, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio State. He accepted a job as the Buccaneers’ linebackers coach in 1996 and, after five seasons in Tampa Bay, was hired as the defensive coordinator of the Rams. Smith took the St. Louis defense from a league-worst 29.4 points per game to seventh in the league allowing 17.1 points per game in his first year leading the defense.

Smith soon earned the head coaching job for the Bears in 2004. Despite losing starting quarterback Rex Grossman to injury for most of the 2005 season, the Bears would get a first round bye in the playoffs as the NFC’s number two-seed in Lovie’s second year as head coach, winning Smith the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award. In 2006, the Bears were the NFC’s number one-seed, owning the NFL’s second-ranked scoring offense and fifth-ranked overall defense. In his third season as an NFL head coach, Smith became the first Black head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl, and the second minority head coach after Tom Flores.

The next six years saw the Bears miss the playoffs five times despite only two losing seasons and never finishing with a record worse than 7-9. Smith was fired after failing to reach the playoffs in the 2012 season despite finishing with a record of 10-6, the last winning season the Bears would see until 2018.

After a year hiatus from the NFL, Smith was brought in to replace Greg Schiano in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers went 2-14 and 6-10 in Smith’s first two seasons and Smith was fired with three years remaining on his contract.

After Tampa Bay, Smith accepted the job of head coach at the University of Illinois. A perennial basement-dweller in the Big Ten, Smith amassed a 17-39 record in five seasons at Illinois. In 2019, he did lead the Fighting Illini to their first bowl game appearance since 2014, but was fired the next year after starting the season 2-5.

Following his stint in college football, Smith was hired by Houston in March of 2021 in his current role under rookie head coach David Culley, returning to the NFL after a 5 year hiatus. Smith did improve the Texans’ defense from ranking 30th in defensive DVOA in 2020 to 23rd in 2021, but Houston was not one of the league’s better defensive units.

Schefter reported that Smith was always included in the Texans’ discussions, but his candidacy for head coach didn’t start gaining momentum until very recently. The consensus in the media is that, along with this revived interest in Smith, McCown is no longer being considered for the position, as Schefter, Rapoport, and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero have all tweeted as much.

It looks, for now, as if Brian Flores and Lovie Smith are the two candidates the Texans are focusing on for the position moving forward, unless any more surprise candidates find their way into contention. Be sure to follow our 2022 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker to keep up with updates to the remaining open positions.

Falcons Release Rex Grossman, T.J. Yates

September 4th, 2015 at 3:27pm CST by Luke Adams

3:27pm: The Falcons have cut Yates as well, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). That leaves Ryan and Renfree as the only quarterbacks on the roster at the moment.

3:23pm: A little over a week after signing him to a contract, the Falcons have released quarterback Rex Grossman, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Because he’s a vested veteran, Grossman won’t have to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent.

Grossman, who turned 35 last month, hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass since 2011 in Washington, and we heard earlier in August that he was still recovering from an injury he sustained while training. However, the veteran QB has a history with Kyle Shanahan, so it was no surprise when the new Falcons and their new offensive coordinator brought in Grossman.

It’s a little surprising that Grossman only lasted about a week and a half on the roster, but it could be a case of the team intending to re-sign him after Week 1, when veteran salaries are no longer guaranteed for the season. For now, T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree remain on Atlanta’s roster as Matt Ryan‘s backups.

Falcons Sign Rex Grossman

August 26th, 2015 at 8:48am CST by Luke Adams

8:48am: The Falcons have waived/injured running back Evan Royster to make room for Grossman, per McClure (via Twitter). That means the team will carry four quarterbacks on its roster for now.

8:12am: After taking a physical and working out for the team yesterday, free agent quarterback Rex Grossman has agreed to terms with the Falcons, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Grossman will be signing a one-year deal with Atlanta, reuniting with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

Throughout the preseason, T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree have been vying for the Falcons’ backup quarterback role behind Matt Ryan, but neither signal-caller has seized the job. Yates entered camp as the presumed favorite, but he has completed just 52.8% of his passes in the preseason so far, and has thrown the team’s only two interceptions.

Grossman, who turned 35 on Sunday, hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass since 2011 in Washington, and we heard earlier this month that he was still recovering from an injury he sustained while training. However, the veteran QB has a history with Shanahan, so the new Falcons offensive coordinator may feel more comfortable with Grossman than he currently does with Yates or Renfree. It remains to be seen whether Yates or Renfree will be cut to accommodate Grossman’s signing, or if the team will temporarily carry four quarterbacks.

In addition to being the last season in which he saw regular-season playing time, 2011 was a year that saw Grossman get an extended opportunity as a starter for Washington — he went 5-8 as the club’s starter, throwing 20 interceptions and just 16 touchdowns. In Atlanta this time around, Grossman shouldn’t see any real game action unless something goes horribly wrong.

According to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Grossman’s deal will be for the minimum salary, which is $970K for a player with his experience.

Rex Grossman Visiting Falcons

August 25th, 2015 at 8:51am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent quarterback Rex Grossman is currently in Atlanta, where he’s geting a physical with the Falcons, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter links). According to McClure, Grossman is also expected to work out with the team this afternoon, following his physical.

It’s not clear yet which quarterback will back up Matt Ryan in Atlanta this season, with T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree vying for the No. 2 job. Yates entered camp as the presumed favorite, but he has completed just 52.8% of his passes in the preseason so far, and has thrown the team’s only two interceptions.

Grossman, who turned 35 on Sunday, hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass since 2011 in Washington, and we heard earlier this month that he was still recovering from an injury he sustained while training. However, the veteran signal-caller has a history with new Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, so Shanahan may feel more comfortable with Grossman than he currently does with Yates or Renfree.

The Falcons figure to make a decision on whether or not to sign Grossman following today’s physical and workout.

NFC Notes: Benjamin, Falcons, AP, RGIII

August 19th, 2015 at 2:33pm CST by Luke Adams

The Panthers are holding their collective breath as they await the results of an MRI on Kelvin Benjamin‘s left knee. The Panthers wideout went down with an apparent non-contact injury during today’s joint practice with the Dolphins, and while head coach Ron Rivera indicated that it’s a sprained knee, there’s a chance the injury is more serious than that. If Benjamin has to miss regular-season action, it’ll be bad news for a Carolina receiving corps that’s lacking legit playmakers outside of Benjamin. Jonathan Jones and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer have the details.

As the Panthers and their fans wait on the results of that MRI, let’s round up a few more items from across the NFC….

A report yesterday suggested that free agent quarterback Rex Grossman was drawing interest from the Falcons, but D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says it’s the other way around, tweeting that Grossman is interested in the Falcons. According to Ledbetter, the team is happy with T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree behind Matt Ryan.
Within an extensive look at Adrian Peterson‘s unusual offseason, Eli Saslow of ESPN The Magazine says that the Vikings running back wants to play another eight season in the NFL, in the hopes of breaking Emmitt Smith’s career rushing record.
Washington would like to stick with Robert Griffin III as the team’s starting quarterback for the entire 2015 season in order to make a fully informed decision about his future, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). The club has already picked up RGIII’s fifth-year option for 2016, but that salary doesn’t become guaranteed until the first day of the ’16 league year, so Washington could still decide to move on from the young QB if this season doesn’t go well.
The Cardinals‘ signing of running back Chris Johnson is a potential coup, and a move straight from the Steve Keim playbook, writes Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic.
Lions safety James Ihedigbo, who had been seeking a new contract earlier this year, still feels like he’s in his prime as he prepares to turn 32 years old, he tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Rex Grossman Turned Down Jets

August 18th, 2015 at 8:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets signed Matt Flynn after Rex Grossman turned them down, Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, Grossman is drawing interest from the Falcons.

We heard last week that Grossman is dealing with an injury he suffered during his training and will need a few weeks to get ready for live action. The former Bears signal caller was linked to the Jets shortly after Geno Smith‘s jaw was broken and it would seem that he was one of the top options – or perhaps the top option – for Gang Green.

Alas, the University of Florida product won’t be coming to New York and he could instead pop up in Atlanta. At present, the Falcons have T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree backing up Matt Ryan.

Grossman, 35 on Sunday, last appeared in the NFL in 2013 with Washington, though he did not see any time on the field. His last season under center was all the way back in 2011 when he started 13 games in D.C., throwing for 3,151 yards with 16 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. The veteran is known for his proclivity for throwing the deep ball, which has led to a great deal of turnovers in the past.

Jets Cancel Workout For QB Tyler Thigpen

August 11th, 2015 at 7:59pm CST by Zachary Links

7:59pm: The Jets have cancelled their workout with Thigpen, a league source tells Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Anderson (Twitter link) hears that the Jets don’t have imminent plans to work out either Thigpen or Grossman.

7:44pm: A Jets source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that the thinking for the team at this time is to go into their preseason opener against the Lions “with the three arms that we have.” No surprise here, but the Jets won’t be signing anyone prior to Friday, when they’ll get a look at Thigpen.

6:08pm: The Jets will work out quarterback Tyler Thigpen on Friday, a league source tells ESPN’s Dianna Marie Russini (on Twitter). Thigpen could be called upon to provide the Jets with depth in the wake of today’s incident which left starter Geno Smith with a broken jaw.

Thigpen, 30, joined the Browns on a one-year deal in May 2014 after a strong performance at their minicamp. He was cut in August to make way for Rex Grossman, but he returned to the roster late in the season when Cleveland needed depth at the quarterback position. A seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft, he saw his most significant action during the 2008 season, when he started 11 games for the Chiefs and put up respectable numbers, including 2,608 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. Since then, he has served as a backup in Kansas City, Miami, Buffalo, and Cleveland.

Speaking of Grossman, Sexy Rexy is reportedly a possible target for the Jets, though he’ll need a couple weeks to get ready as he recovers from an injury.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Grossman, Bills

August 11th, 2015 at 3:14pm CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of the locker-room altercation that left Geno Smith with a broken jaw, the Jets are in the preliminary stages of adding another quarterback to their roster, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

It makes sense that the team would want to add another veteran to the mix while Smith is out, since Ryan Fitzpatrick would be the only signal-caller on the roster with NFL experience — rookies Bryce Petty and Jake Heaps are also on the Jets’ roster, but Heaps is likely just a camp arm and a potential practice squad candidate, while the club would probably rather not have Petty see regular-season action this year.

One potential target for the Jets may be Rex Grossman, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, who tweets that the team reached out to the veteran free agent. However, Grossman is dealing with an injury he suffered during his training, and would need a few weeks to get ready, so the Jets figure to consider other options as well.

As we wait to see which direction the Jets go, here’s more from around the AFC East:

Jonathan Martin, the offensive tackle at the center of the Dolphins‘ bullying scandal in 2013, explained in a since-deleted tweet that he decided to retire from the NFL because “in the end, football was just a job, albeit a fun and well-paying one.” Alluding to the health concerns inherent in being an NFL player, Martin added that “being in a wheelchair at 50 isn’t worth any amount of money,” per Bill Voth of the Black and Blue Review. As Voth observes, another Martin tweet in which the former lineman compliments his Panthers and 49ers teammates, without mentioning his Dolphins teammates, serves as a reminder that Martin’s time in Miami didn’t exactly go smoothly.
Jim Turner, the offensive line coach who was dismissed by the Dolphins after Ted Wells published his report on the 2013 bullying scandal, filed a lawsuit against Wells and his law firm, but didn’t name the Dolphins or the NFL as defendants, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Former Clemson cornerback Garry Peters is working out for the Bills, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Peters signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason, but was cut at the end of July by Carolina.

Browns Place Johnny Manziel On IR

December 24th, 2014 at 10:38am CST by Rob DiRe

WEDNESDAY, 10:38am: The Browns have officially placed Manziel on IR, along with defensive lineman Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, the team announced today (via Twitter). The two moves accommodate the previously reported roster additions of long snapper Charley Hughlett and defensive lineman John Hughes.

MONDAY, 3:56pm: Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel will not be available for the last game of the season against the Ravens, according to Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com (via Twitter). Manziel injured his hamstring in last week’s loss to the Panthers, and the injury would have reportedly forced him to miss a few weeks had this not been the last game of the year.

The team’s other quarterback option with experience is Brian Hoyer, who started for most of the season before being benched for Manziel. His status for Sunday’s game is uncertain due to a shoulder injury as well, which could leave the Browns without their two top quarterbacks.

The next option is undrafted rookie Connor Shaw, who the team signed after the draft this season. The former University of South Carolina quarterback is expected to get the lion’s share of the reps with the first team in practice this week in anticipation of the matchup with Baltimore (via Twitter).

According to Grossi, the team is also considering bringing in a quarterback from outside the organization, to serve as a backup under the circumstance where Hoyer cannot dress for the game. Grossi expects that the team will bring Rex Grossman in as an emergency option for Week 17 (via Twitter).

Grossman played under Kyle Shanahan for years, first with the Texans as a backup and also during their time together in Washington. Grossman was also with the team for a few weeks this August, and should have some comfort level, if not familiarity, with the offense.

Browns coach Mike Pettine was asked about the prospect of bringing in Grossman, and was noncommittal but noted that the team was exploring their options, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (via Twitter). Pettine said he would get together with general manager Ray Farmer and they would look into how to proceed.

Extra Points: Marrone, Grossman, Draft

December 23rd, 2014 at 10:54pm CST by Luke Adams

If the Bills‘ new owners, Terry Pegula and Kim Pegula, have decided to retain head coach Doug Marrone beyond this season, they haven’t told Marrone yet, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. However, as Marrone told reporters today, he’s not worried about receiving assurances about his job.

“Now is really not the time for that in our profession,” Marrone said. “Maybe some other people would do that. I’m probably not the best person to talk to because I’m wired a little bit differently. Like I said, my focus is just on this game and winning. I don’t want to focus on the other stuff. The things that you can’t control, you don’t worry about. Those things will happen, I’m sure, when the season is over.”

Let’s check in on a few more Tuesday items from around the NFL….

Browns head coach Mike Pettine confirmed today to reporters, including Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald (via Twitter), that Cleveland tried to sign quarterback Rex Grossman before reaching out to Tyler Thigpen. Grossman reportedly declined because he wanted to spent the holidays with his family instead.
Boise State running back Jay Ajayi announced this week that he’ll forgo his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL draft, says Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman, who notes that Ajayi made the decision earlier this month. Ajayi, who racked up 1,689 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns in his junior year, currently ranks as the 10th-best back in this year’s class, per Mel Kiper of ESPN.com.
Utah offensive tackle Jeremiah Poutasi is expected to enter the 2015 draft early, sources tell Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link). Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com tweeted earlier this year that Poutasi is “pretty raw,” but is an intriguing prospect with a good deal of upside.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune explains why it wasn’t a practical solution for the Bears to use the franchise tag on Jay Cutler a year ago.
While Tony Sparano deserves praise for the job he’s done as the Raiders‘ interim coach, the club needs to “aim higher” when selecting its next coach, in the view of Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group.

Zach Links contributed to this post.