Texans owners talk turning hard times into an AFC contender

HOUSTON -- Nick Caserio felt the pressure following the 2022 season. The struggles for theHouston Texansfrom Year 1 under the general manager's watch repeated in Year 2, as their record stood at 7-25-1 under his watch.

Caserio was set to hire his third coach in three years. He understood he had to find the right coach, or he wouldn't be the GM much longer.

"I have a responsibility, and I understand, let's be real, let's be honest, the clock is ticking," Caserio said at the time.

Three weeks later, the Texans held a news conference to officially announce the hire of DeMeco Ryans to be the franchise's eighth coach. The partnership blossomed between the GM and first-time head coach, one that owner Cal McNair -- who served as the chairman and CEO of the organization at the time -- felt differently about.

"We had done a lot of work to get the plate set right for a couple of years," said McNair, who recently took over as owner of the team. "And so when we did bring DeMeco in, we had Nick there. We saw that synergy."

McNair and his wife, Hannah, saw the shift coming before the Texans stood atop the AFC South in 2023 and won a playoff game for the first time since 2019. They know there's more to be done before they are completely satisfied, but they're happy with the direction of the franchise because of their coach and GM combination.

"We knew we had a certain type of football mind with Nick, we had to match that with the coach," said Hannah McNair, who serves as the vice president in the business department. "When you have a coach and a GM that are in unison with the way they approach the game, that's when you know you can elevate to the next level."

THE MCNAIRS WERE eager to see the chemistry blossom between Caserio and Ryans.

Ryans got to work quickly, filling out his staff -- with the most notable hire at offensive coordinator. He brought Bobby Slowik over from the San Francisco 49ers with him.

Slowik runs a West Coast offense similar to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan's, and Ryans, who was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco in 2021 and 2022,runs an attacking 4-3 front -- built around the defensive line.

Caserio followed suit by signing players who fit Ryans' vision. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Caserio spent $58.2 million in guaranteed money, 12th most, during free agency.

Wide receiver Robert Woods was an early signing. He understood the offense having played under Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, a Shanahan disciple, from 2017 to 2021. They also signed tight end Dalton Schultz, a receiving threat and an effective blocker -- a requirement under Slowik.

Caserio added two players familiar with Ryans' defense: Former 49ers safety Jimmie Ward and former New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins.

Ryans wants to win from the trenches, so Caserio spent big on the offensive line. He traded a late-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to acquire right guard Shaq Masonbefore signing him to a three-year, $36 million deal. He also gave left tackle Laremy Tunsil a three-year, $75 million extension to make him the highest-paid tackle in the league.

Before training camp started, Caserio also gave right tackle Tytus Howard a three-year, $56 million contract totaling $118.5 million in guaranteed money between Mason, Tunsil and Howard. That was the most since 2019 when the Eagles gave out $122.4 million of guaranteed money with extensions to five players.

Then there was draft night, maybe the most vital part of it all.

After selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 pick, the Texans shocked the NFL world by trading up to No. 3, where they selected defensive end Will Anderson Jr. Stroud and Anderson went on to earn Pro Bowl honors and swept the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards for just the fourth time by teammates.

"When [Ryans] came into the building, you saw them working together, and you started to feel [the change]," Hannah McNair said. "So, I think that's when you started to really feel it, and we felt it in the building."

FAST FORWARD TO 2024, and the Texans have already spent $167 million in guaranteed since free agency began a month ago.

They also acquired two-time All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs in a blockbuster trade by sending a 2025 second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings) to the Buffalo Bills. Houston received a 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 189 overall) and a 2025 fifth-round pick. The second-round pick came from when the Texans dealt their 2024 first-rounder to the Vikings In March.

The Texans reworked Diggs' contract by voiding the final three years and increased his base salary to $22.52 million guaranteed money before he becomes a free agent in 2025.

The organization signed defensive end Danielle Hunter--coming off a career-high 16.5 sacks -- to a two-year, $49 million deal. They added former Tennessee Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair--who is coming off a career-high 163 tackles -- to a three-year, $34 million contract. Then, they traded for former Bengals running back Joe Mixon before giving the 2021 Pro Bowler a three-year, $27 million contract extension.

The Texans did lose their sack leader from last season, defensive end Jonathan Greenard, and leading tackler, linebacker Blake Cashman, during free agency to the Vikings. Their interior defensive line took a hit as they lost Rankins to the Cincinnati Bengals and traded defensive tackle Maliek Collins to the 49ers.

Ryans said at the league's annual meeting last month that he wanted to upgrade the entire roster, and he and Caserio have done just that on paper.

It's the type of partnership that the McNairs envisioned when it all began at the start of 2023.

"[Caserio] and [Ryans] are working really well together," Cal McNair said. "And I think that collaboration is going to take us a long way. I can't wait to see the rest of this offseason."