One of my big questions for the Houston Texans heading into the offseason, and really throughout the regular season, too, was whether or not head coach DeMeco Ryans could be a “wartime head coach.” In other words, could DeMeco make the tough moves like firing a close friend in a prominent position. The answer, of course, was a resounding “YES,” as offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was cut loose after a subpar 2024 season for the offense.
Now, it’s Nick Caley’s offense to coordinate. Early impressions of Caley are that he brings a little more energy and juice than Slowik, but the most crucial element Caley will need to bring is more yards and more points than Slowik’s offense did. Caley has made it clear that he is not running someone else’s playbook. He will take the guys in the building and build the best offense for what suits those skillsets.
To that end (and, yes, I know it’s early), here are the four Texans currently under the most pressure with a new offensive coordinator in the house:
4. DALTON SCHULTZ, tight end
Schultz was a major disappointment in the first year of his new three year contract extension that he signed in March of 2024. All of his stats went backward, but more importantly, his blocking was abysmal. Caley made it very clear on his appearance on “Texans All Access” below, that physicality from the tight ends are a necessity in his offense:
Even on his best blocking days, Schultz is far from a physically tough beast in the run game. It will be up to Schultz to prove that, somewhere in there, is a player who enjoys contact and opening up run lanes for Joe Mixon.
3. COLE POPOVICH, new offensive line coach
Popovich was in the building last season as the assistant offensive line coach to the lead offensive line coach, Chris Strausser. Strausser was fired alongside Slowik, and the Texans chose to make an internal promotion with Popovich. Popovich has experience with Caley from their time in New England, but there is a ton of skepticism among the fan base about allowing anyone having ANYTHING to do with last year’s offensive line a shot at leading that group in 2025. The line was a jumbled, confused mess in 2024. Certainly, Caley’s focus on fundamentals should help, but if the line doesn’t perform well, it will come crashing down on Popovich’s head.
2. NICO COLLINS, wide receiver
There is always conventional pressure on your best players, and certainly Collins is one of the best players on the Houston Texans. The pressure on Collins this season is to find a way to stay healthy for all 17 games. Last season, he missed 5.5 games with a hamstring pull, and the Texans’ offense wilted with Collins out. As of right now, wide receiver is one of the least deep position groups on the roster. Certainly, the Texans will make some moves, and pick up some bodies, in free agency and the draft, but it’s hard to imagine a version of the Texans’ offense in 2025 that just hums along fine without Collins in the lineup.
1. C.J. STROUD, quarterback
Stroud has always said that pressure is a privilege, so in 2025, there will be plenty of privilege for Stroud, so already seems to be treating the offseason differently this year than a year ago. Stroud turned down an invite to the Pro Bowl back in January, and was nowhere to be seen on Radio Row at the Super Bowl. On the surface, this indicates an increased focus on “the main thing,” which is football. Stroud is now on his second offensive coordinator, and if he has a big season, a massive contract extension looms next summer, in 2026.
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