The Houston Texans are making a late change to their coaching staff.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson are parting ways after three seasons. For the first time since DeMeco Ryans was hired, Houston will have a new quarterbacks coach leading the charge with Pro Bowl C.J. Stroud.
According to multiple reports, senior offensive assistant and pass game specialist Jerry Schuplinski, who is offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s right-hand man, is expected to have the quarterbacks coach role, meaning Houston won’t have a nationwide search for a new coach.
Johnson, who previously worked under Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni as an offensive quality-control coach for the Indianapolis Colts, has been a finalist for multiple offensive coordinator jobs over the past three seasons. This past cycle, Johnson interviewed for openings with the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.
A former star quarterback at Texas A&M, Johnson has interviewed for several offensive coordinator positions in the past, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots openings over the past three cycles. Last year, he was viewed as a favorite to be promoted after Bobby Slowik’s firing, but Houston instead elected to hire Los Angeles Rams pass-game coordinator Nick Caley.
Johnson, 37, has coached Stroud since he was in high school at the Elite 11 competition. The two remained close while Stroud attended Ohio State and reunited in Houston following his selection No. 2 overall in 2023. Over the past three seasons, Johnson has helped Stroud earn a Pro Bowl selection while guiding the offense to three playoff appearances.
He was also influential in helping Stroud earn Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2023.
“Jerrod has done a great job this year,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I’ve definitely seen growth in him as a coach and how he’s done a better job of working with the quarterbacks. He’s given those guys a lot of pointers, a lot of tips, especially from him being a guy who played the position.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans mutually part ways with QB coach Jerrod Johnson after 3 seasons
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
