As the NFL regular season barrels toward its final stretch, the league starts to split into two clear camps: the contenders and the rebuilders. But whether a team is eyeing a playoff run or already planning for next year, they’re all part of the same annual tradition - the coaching carousel.
It’s that time of year when job security gets shaky, and resumes start flying. And for teams on the outside looking in, the search for fresh leadership often begins by poaching talent from within the playoff ranks.
That hotshot coordinator calling plays in January? He might be leading a new team by March.
Enter the Houston Texans.
With a 9-2 surge putting them firmly in the postseason picture, the Texans are not only in the hunt for a playoff spot - they’re also becoming a prime target for teams looking to upgrade their coaching staff. Their playoff odds are hovering somewhere between 80 and 98 percent, and with that kind of momentum, it’s no surprise the league is taking notice of the people behind the scenes.
This isn’t new territory for Houston. Since DeMeco Ryans took over, the Texans have gone 29-22, snagged two division titles, and picked up a couple of playoff wins.
That kind of turnaround draws attention. Just last year, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was a hot name in head coaching circles, landing multiple interviews.
He didn’t get a job, and the 2024 season didn’t exactly help his case - the offense took a noticeable step back. But the buzz around Houston’s coaching staff hasn’t died down.
It’s just shifted to the other side of the ball.
And it’s easy to see why.
This year’s Texans defense has been downright nasty - ranking No. 1 in both points allowed and total yards allowed. And this isn’t a stat-padding unit beating up on bottom feeders.
They’ve shut down heavyweights like the Rams, Bills, and Chiefs. That kind of dominance turns heads, and it’s putting defensive coordinator Matt Burke in the spotlight.
Burke has been with Ryans from the start, but his stock took a serious leap when Ryans handed him the defensive play-calling duties before Week 4. At that point, Houston was 0-3.
Since then? 9-2, with the defense allowing more than 20 points just twice in that stretch.
That’s not just good - that’s resume-building stuff. Burke’s never been more than a coordinator in his long NFL career, but if this defense keeps humming, don’t be surprised if his phone rings with head coaching interview requests.
He may not be the offensive-minded, quarterback-whispering type that so many teams covet, but when you’re leading the league’s best defense, people take notice.
And it’s not just Burke who could be on the move.
Position coaches like defensive line coach Rod White and secondary coach Dino Vasso are also generating buzz. If teams start hiring away defensive coordinators - and they will - guys like White and Vasso could be next in line for promotions.
And if Burke does land a head coaching gig, don’t be shocked if one of these in-house candidates gets the nod to replace him. With the talent returning on defense and the aggressive mindset of this staff, promoting from within might be the smart play.
Special teams coordinator Frank Ross could also be a name to watch. While Houston’s special teams haven’t been quite as sharp this season as in years past, Ross has built a solid reputation.
Special teams coaches don’t often get the first call for head coaching jobs, but history tells us they can make the leap. Just ask Mike Ditka or John Harbaugh.
Ross may not be on the short list, but he’s earned the right to be in the conversation.
On the offensive side, the outlook is a little murkier. Offensive coordinator Ben Caley hasn’t exactly lit the league on fire this season, and unless the Texans’ offense takes a big step forward in the final weeks, he’s unlikely to draw much interest.
But there are a couple of assistants who could get a look. Quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, for instance, has done solid work helping Davis Mills and C.J.
Stroud navigate a season behind a banged-up offensive line. That kind of development, especially with young quarterbacks, is something other teams notice.
A jump to offensive coordinator somewhere else isn’t out of the question - though a major promotion within the NFL seems less likely for now.
And then there’s the wild card: head coach DeMeco Ryans himself.
Let’s be clear - there’s no talk of Houston letting him go. Nor should there be.
But Ryans’ name continues to carry weight in college football circles, especially when it comes to his alma mater: Alabama. While Kalen DeBoer is currently leading the Crimson Tide, his long-term future in Tuscaloosa isn’t set in stone.
If a job like Michigan were to lure DeBoer away - and that door may have cracked open - Alabama’s boosters could come calling. Ryans was mentioned as a possible successor when Nick Saban retired in 2023, and if the job opens again, you can bet his name will be back in the mix.
Houston would hate to lose him, but sometimes college loyalty and deep-pocketed programs make offers that are hard to turn down.
So as the Texans gear up for what could be a deep playoff run - and maybe even a shot at the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy - don’t lose sight of the other battle happening behind the scenes. The coaching carousel is spinning, and Houston is right in the middle of it. Whether it’s Burke, Ross, Johnson, or someone else entirely, expect some familiar faces to be on the move this offseason.
For Texans fans, that’s both a compliment and a challenge. Success breeds opportunity - and that means other teams are going to come knocking.