By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Houston Texans dismissed head coach Lovie Smith on Sunday night. He was in his first season as their head coach.
Smith, who was confident about returning to the team next season earlier on Sunday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, was fired after one season. He had three more years left on his contract.
“Nick Caserio [General Manager] and I spoke with Lovie Smith tonight and informed him that we will be moving in a different direction as an organization,” Texans Chairman and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement. “I appreciate Coach Smith and his entire family for their contributions over the last two seasons. We are grateful for his leadership and character, and we wish him the best moving forward. While we understand the results have not been what we had hoped for, we are committed to building a program that produces long-term, sustainable success.
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“Our family and city deserve a team that they can be proud of. I will work alongside Nick Caserio throughout this process and I’m confident we will find the right leader for our football program.”
Smith was named Texans head coach for the 2022 season after serving as the team’s Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator in 2021. When he was named the Texans’ head coach this season, it was the first time as an NFL head coach since 2015 when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The veteran head coach is now 92-100-1 as a head coach. The Texans went 3-13-1 this past season.
Houston was the leading candidate for much of the season to get the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, on the final day of the season, the Texans gave up the right to the selection after defeating the Indianapolis Colts in the season finale.
After scoring a touchdown to defeat the Colts on a fourth-and-20-play, the Texans will now have the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft in April 2023.
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“On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Lovie Smith for everything he has contributed to our team over the last two seasons as a coach and as a leader,” Caserio said in a statement. “I’m constantly evaluating our football operation and believe this is the best decision for us at this time. It is my responsibility to build a comprehensive and competitive program that can sustain success over a long period of time.
“We aren’t there right now; however, with the support of the McNair family and the resources available to us, I’m confident in the direction of our football program moving forward.”
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