Texans Face Offseason Questions as DeMeco Ryans Evaluates Offensive Staff, Including Nick Caley
HOUSTON - After a rollercoaster season that ended in a tough playoff loss to the Patriots, the Houston Texans are entering the offseason with one major question looming: what’s next for offensive coordinator Nick Caley and the rest of the offensive staff?
Head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t offer any firm answers Monday, saying he’ll take the week to evaluate everything-from coaching contracts to player development. It’s a pivotal moment for a Texans team that showed real growth in 2025 but still has clear areas in need of improvement.
Caley, in his first year as a play-caller, had a rocky start. The Texans opened the season 0-3 as Caley installed a system influenced by his time with the New England Patriots.
But as the year went on, the offense began to find its rhythm. Caley developed chemistry with his players, and the unit became less predictable and more dynamic in the second half of the season.
League insiders suggest Caley is likely to return. And it would be surprising for the Texans to move on from a promising young coordinator just as he’s starting to settle into the role. Still, if Ryans does decide to make a change, it would mark the third offensive coordinator in four seasons-a level of turnover that can stall a young quarterback’s development.
“We’re evaluating everything,” Ryans said, a day after the Texans’ 28-16 loss to the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round. “Coaches, players, contracts-it’s all part of the process.”
That process will include a close look at how the offense performed under Caley. After starting 3-5, Houston rattled off a 10-game winning streak, including a Wild Card win over the Steelers.
They finished the season ranked 13th in scoring, 18th in total offense, 14th in passing, and 22nd in rushing. Those numbers mark an improvement over last year, when the Texans were 19th in scoring and 22nd in total offense under Bobby Slowik.
One of the biggest reasons for optimism? Caley’s offense evolved.
It wasn’t static. As the season progressed, he adjusted, found what worked, and leaned into it.
That kind of growth is exactly what you want to see from a first-year coordinator.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud, who made NFL history this postseason by becoming the first player to record five interceptions and five fumbles in the same playoff run, voiced strong support for Caley.
“Yeah, definitely. I love Cales,” Stroud said.
“There’s growth in our relationship, growth in his ability to call plays. DeMeco trusted him.
Whatever our coaches decide, I love Cales, and I’m rocking with him however long he’s going to be here.”
Stroud’s loyalty speaks volumes. This is a young quarterback who knows what it’s like to shoulder responsibility and understands that offensive success-or failure-is never on one person.
He made it clear: this isn’t just about Caley. It’s about everyone stepping up.
That said, the playoff loss to New England exposed some of the offense’s lingering vulnerabilities. The absence of Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins was a major blow.
Collins is Houston’s most explosive weapon, and without him, the Texans struggled to stretch the field. Tight end Dalton Schultz, who led the team with 82 catches this season, made a big 42-yard play before exiting with a calf injury.
Losing both of those guys in a high-stakes game? That’s a gut punch.
“You don’t replace a Nico Collins,” Ryans said. “You don’t replace a Dalton Schultz.
When you lose your top guys, it’s tough. We definitely missed them.”
Without their top playmakers, the Texans managed just 48 rushing yards. Stroud threw four interceptions-his most in a single game-and the offense went 1-for-4 in the red zone. That’s not a recipe for playoff success.
Still, the Texans made real strides this year. Pass protection, for one, was significantly better.
After allowing a staggering 52 sacks last season, the offensive line gave up just 23 this year. That’s a testament to the changes Ryans made-replacing Slowik with Caley and promoting Cole Popovich to run game coordinator.
And let’s not forget the bigger picture. Houston became just the fifth team since 1990 to reach the postseason after starting 0-3. Stroud and Ryans also joined a rare group as only the fourth quarterback-head coach duo in league history to make the playoffs in each of their first three seasons together.
Stroud knows there’s work to be done, but he also sees the foundation being built.
“There’s a lot of things that can be fixed,” he said. “When you have injuries, a new system, you’re still trying to find your identity.
What we were running in the playoffs wasn’t what we were running in Week 1-it changed. But that’s part of the process.”
He didn’t shy away from accountability either.
“It’s not just on Cales, so I want to nip that in the bud right now,” Stroud said. “It’s on me too.
It’s on all of us. But it starts with me.”
That kind of leadership from your quarterback is invaluable. And it underscores why this Texans team is trending in the right direction-even with some tough decisions ahead.
As DeMeco Ryans takes the week to evaluate his staff, the question isn’t just whether Caley stays or goes. It’s whether the Texans believe this version of the offense is the one that can take them to the next level. Because after a season of growth, adversity, and flashes of brilliance, Houston isn’t just looking to make the playoffs anymore-they’re looking to make a run.