HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have interviewed quarterback Josh McCown and former Lions and Colts head coach Jim Caldwell for their opening as head coaches, the team announced Friday.
Houston signed McCown on November 4 with a two-year contract from the Philadelphia Eagles training squad, joining Deshaun Watson and AJ McCarron.
The Texans also announced that they had ‘ongoing discussions’ about the vacancy with Caldwell.
Caldwell, 66, was recently hired as assistant head coach at the Miami Dolphins in 2019, but had to leave the team before the season to address health issues and was not retained for next season. He won 36-30, including playoff games, as head coach of the Lions (2014-’17) and 28-24 as head coach of the Colts (2009-’11).
McCown, 41, retired in 2019 after 17 years in the NFL and took a job as a high school coach in Charlotte, North Carolina, where his sons played. He continued with coaching after retiring and signing with the Eagles later in 2019.
McCown played three games that season, including the loss of the game card for the Seattle Seahawks after Carson Wentz left with a concussion in the first quarter.
When McCown signed with the Texans, he was asked if he hoped to coach in the future.
“I believe so,” McCown said in November. “If you had asked me ten years ago, I would have said no way, that’s not what I want to do at this level. My dream of getting out of college if I could not play in the NFL was to to coach high school football here in Texas.I really thought it was going to be my way.But the longer I’ve been in this game and been with these guys, I see the value of being able to be part of an organization and to could compete at the highest level …
“Yeah, one of those days, whenever that happens, when I finally pull out the clamps, I’ll definitely see it in the future.”
The team announced earlier this week that they had interviewed Bills defense coordinator Leslie Frazier, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Colts defense coordinator Matt Eberflus, and Ravens head coach David Culley.