After seven seasons, the Houston Texans have fired head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien. This follows Houston’s 0-4 start to the 2020 NFL season.
O’Brien was hired as the head coach and general manager of the Texans in 2014, after spending the 2012 and 2013 seasons in the college ranks as the head coach at Penn State.
Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair, who terminated O’Brien just one quarter through the season and with the club off to its worst start since 2008. O’Brien departs Houston with a career regular-season record of 52-48 and just one losing season (2017) in his tenure.
“On behalf of my family and our entire organization, I want to sincerely thank Bill O’Brien and his family for their impact on our franchise,” McNair said in a statement. “Bill’s leadership moved our organization forward as he guided us to four AFC South division championships, 52 wins and multiple playoff appearances during his tenure.
“Bill proved himself as a coach and leader in this league. I spoke with him earlier today and told him we are moving in a different direction. Romeo Crennel will serve as our interim head coach for the remainder of the 2020 season. We have a talented team and I have no doubt our players and staff will rally to make Texans fans proud as we aim to win championships and do great things for the city of Houston.”
In his six full seasons as head coach of the Texans, the team finished above .500 five times and won the AFC South four times, the most successful six-season stretch in franchise history.
The Texans rank 29th in the NFL averaging just 20.0 points per game so far this season
Associate head coach Romeo Crennel will take over as interim head coach. The 73-year-old Crennel has previously served as head coach in Cleveland and Kansas City.