Word started circulating last week that the Texans and third-year quarterbacks coach and Houston native Jerrod Johnson had decided to part ways during the Scouting Combine, but there was no official announcement.
Then, early Sunday, word began to spread that Johnson’s unemployment status hadn’t lasted long because the Philadelphia Eagles – the team that interviewed him for its offensive coordinator position this hiring cycle –had hired him to their staff.
Again, with no official word.
Never has an individual made such drastic moves in the NFL in a span of a few days without any official word from the players involved.
But it does all add up.
The problem here with the Texans is that there seemed to be a bit of a disconnect between the franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud, and 37-year-old Johnson. That’s not to suggest that the two didn’t get along or see eye to eye.
For whatever reason, what Johnson was teaching Stroud wasn’t quite absorbing, and it played out on the football field when it became clear the franchise quarterback hadn’t progressed as expected after his AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign two years ago.
It’s not to say that Johnson had somehow lost his touch after elevating Stroud to one of the most magical rookie campaigns anyone has ever had. Stroud also didn’t become a worse quarterback either.
That magic sauce that they shared in 2023 just hadn’t worked the same for the last two seasons.
Something had to change. That was especially true as Texans general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans work on an extension for Stroud that won’t initially be embraced by the fan base.
There was also some dysfunction Johnson had to deal with this season that probably allowed him to see the writing on the wall. The Texans fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik following the 2024 season, but the former Humble High School standout kept his job.
Enter new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who brought with him his quarterback specialist, Jerry Schuplinski, who was given the vague title of offensive assistant last season. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to guess who is rumored to be the successor to Johnson, although there hasn’t been an official announcement on Schuplinski – yet.
It makes even more sense when you know the John Carroll University mafia from the Cleveland area that’s forming inside the Texans’ headquarters, that includes Caserio, Caley, special teams coordinator Frank Ross, and now Schuplinski.
Johnson and the Texans’ impending separation was probably in the works after Stroud’s two subpar playoff performances, but the Texans did the right thing by waiting to make a move while Johnson interviewed for offensive coordinator jobs with the Miami Dolphins and Eagles this offseason.
Had the separation been announced as soon as the Texans were booted from the second round of the playoffs, Johnson wouldn’t have gotten either one of the OC interviews he had.
But Johnson, who was part of Ryan’s inaugural staff with the Texans, has landed somewhere with a head coach, Nick Sirianni, who likes him and clearly has a plan for him. This was the second time Johnson has interviewed for Sirianni’s offensive coordinator job in recent years. The two have a connection that goes back to when they were both on the Indianapolis Colts’ staff.
The only tricky part that still needs to be figured out is exactly what role Johnson is taking on with the Eagles. Jalen Hurts already has a quarterback coach.
But the good thing is that Johnson was only unemployed for a couple of days. In the meantime, we await the official announcement from the Texans that Johnson is no longer with them and the other that he has joined the Eagles staff.
