The successful, yet trying 2024 season has cost Bobby Slowik his job.
The Texans are moving on from the offensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday. Offensive line coach Chris Strausser is also out in Houston, per Rapoport.
Slowik's departure caps a mercurial two seasons in Houston, where the OC began with a fantastic debut season as Houston's play-caller, directing C.J. Stroud to a stellar rookie campaign that ended in a division title, a home playoff win, a Divisional Round appearance and an Offensive Rookie of the Year honor for the quarterback. With Slowik calling the shots, Houston finished with a top-12 offense and the seventh-ranked passing offense (in yards per game) in 2023, propelling the Texans to a stunning turnaround season and a bright future.
The same couldn't be said about their second campaign together. Houston's offensive line was inconsistent all year long, significantly hindering their passing game and Stroud's attempt to build upon his stellar rookie season. He finished with the second most sacks taken (52) of any quarterback in the NFL, and as protection routinely failed, Stroud's performance suffered. It became obvious Stroud didn't trust his offensive line, contributing to a lack of decisiveness later in the season and some uncharacteristic mental mistakes that led to turnovers. He finished with lower totals in completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns and passer rating while watching his interceptions total jump from five in 2023 to 12 in 2024.
Theoretically, Houston should've been better in 2024 than they were in 2023. They added Stefon Diggs to the receiving corps and Joe Mixon to the backfield, and while both produced, the unit's collective lack of consistency held back the entire operation. Mixon's injuries and Diggs' season-ending ACL tear -- plus Nico Collins' absence due to injury and Tank Dell's season-ending knee injury -- certainly didn't help matters, but the Texans also didn't give themselves the best chance of success when making scheme decisions.
The results were underwhelming. The Texans finished 22nd in total yards per game, 21st in passing, 19th in scoring and 15th in rushing in 2024.
Houston rebounded well enough to defeat the Chargers on Wild Card Weekend and made their Divisional Round meeting with the Chiefs interesting, but by then, they'd evolved from a team with a potent offense to one relying on their defense to win them games. For a club as talented as this, that simply wasn't good enough, leading to head coach DeMeco Ryans' decision to part with both Slowik and Strausser.
Fortunately for the Texans, they're confident in their choice for head coach. Their impending offensive coordinator and OL coach hires will be crucial to their long-term goals of success, though. That process begins now.
