Just in: Offensive Coordinator Target Stays With Texans, Per Patriots Rumor
As the New England Patriots continue their search for a new offensive coordinator, one potential candidate will not be leaving his current spot.
After interviewing with the Patriots, quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson will stay with the Houston Texans, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Johnson was one of more than 10 interviewees for the Patriots’ offensive coordinator opening, which would have been an intriguing option for New England.
The 35-year-old worked well this season with quarterback C.J. Stroud, who burst onto the scene as a prime Rookie of the Year candidate. Stroud racked up 4,108 passing yards with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. In working with Johnson, the Ohio State product helped boost the Texans to a division title and a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns in the AFC wild card round.
In several ways, the Texans provide a blueprint for how the Patriots look to surge under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo. Based off of that success, however, Johnson will stay on board with talented head coach DeMeco Ryans.
With a new defensive coordinator locked in, the Patriots look to fill the spot on the other side of the ball in effort to fill out their coaching staff in the near future.
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Reports: OC Bobby Slowik, QB coach Jerrod Johnson stay with Texans
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson are both staying with the Houston Texans, multiple reports said Tuesday. Teams had been attempting to snag Johnson as their new offensive coordinator, but he has told teams that he plans to return to Houston to continue working with head coach DeMeco Ryans, quarterback C.J. Stroud and Slowik. Slowik, meanwhile, recently struck a new deal with the Texans, Sports Illustrated and ESPN reported. That contract includes a pay raise, keeping Slowik in Houston after he too had drawn interest from multiple teams across the league.
Earlier Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had announced that they completed an interview with Johnson for their offensive coordinator position. The New Orleans Saints were also reportedly in on Johnson. The Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks were among the teams that were interested in Slowik. Atlanta hired Raheem Morris for its head-coaching position and the Panthers went with Dave Canales. Houston is coming off a 10-7 season, finishing atop the AFC South to secure a playoff berth for the first time since the 2019 campaign. The Texans blew by the Cleveland Browns 45-14 in the wild-card round before falling 34-10 to the Baltimore Ravens.
