The Houston Texans were in need of a change on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. Bobby Slowik entered the season as a potential head coaching candidate but the Texans slumped from 12th in total offense and 13th in scoring offense the previous season to 22nd in total offense and 19th in scoring offense in 2024, leading to Slowik’s dismissal.
Slowik has landed on his feet but the Texans need to find a way to move forward under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. DeMeco Ryans shed some light on the decision on the change on Thursday and how it shapes his vision for a better offense in 2025.
DeMeco Ryans Believes Texans Offense Can Reach New Level Under Nick Caley
Ryans addressed reporters at a news conference on Thursday and spoke glowingly about Caley. The former passing game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, Caley comes from the vaunted Sean McVay coaching tree and Ryans believes his arrival adds another dynamic to the Houston offense.
“Going through my process, it was very clear that Nick was the right guy for our team,” Ryans said via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. “With his energy, his leadership ability and with him being able to understand the run game, pass game, with him being in multiple schemes that were successful, [and] understanding how to tailor the offense to the players that we have led me to Nick. And I feel really strong in my conviction that he can lead us and get us over the hump. We’ve had a lot of good success these first two years and the reason we’re doing this is I think there’s another level that we can go to. As I was saying earlier, this is my job to take this organization to new heights and I think hiring Nick will help us get there.”
#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on reason behind moving on from Bobby Slowik and hiring Nick Caley rooted in desire to take offense to 'new level' @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/yQ8HYxJbQO
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 13, 2025
Like a picky eater, the Texans offense left a lot of meat on the bone last season. C.J. Stroud was coming off a solid rookie season throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions and Houston had a talented receiving duo of Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The additions of Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon were designed to take the Texans to another level, but the team stalled out as the offensive line struggled, Stroud regressed, and injuries ravaged the unit.
While replacing Slowik with Caley was the first move, there’s a chance more are on the way. Diggs is a free agent after tearing his ACL last October and Mixon has been hinting about a potential split on social media. Dell is recovering from a major leg injury suffered in December and it’s possible the Texans could be looking for another playmaker to pair with Collins in the passing game.
It should lead to an exciting offseason for the Texans, who will look to three-peat as AFC South champions next season.