JANUARY 21: GM Nick Caserio said Wednesday (via Wilson) he anticipates Caley returning for a second season as OC. Wilson indicates Caley will indeed be back, but staff changes will be in play as well. Offensive line coach Cole Popovich appears likely to stay, with Caserio indicating (via Wilson) he did a “phenomenal job.”
It would appear Caley will enter 2026 on the hot seat, with Caserio adding his unit “didn’t execute well enough,” citing a turnover problem that included five giveaways in the team’s season-ending loss in Foxborough.
JANUARY 20: Last offseason, the Texans moved on from Bobby Slowik following his two-year run as offensive coordinator. Nick Caley was hired as his replacement. 
Things did not go according to plan on offense early in the season for Houston. The team started 0-3 despite strong play from a defense which proved to be among the league’s best throughout the campaign. By late October, questions had been raised about Caley’s job status. Head coach DeMeco Ryans offered an endorsement at that time, however.
When speaking to the media following Houston’s divisional round loss, Ryans said every aspect of his coaching staff will be subject to evaluation over the coming days. Caley is therefore a candidate to be let go as things stand. Nevertheless, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports a firing is not expected at this point. The 2025 season was Caley’s first as a coordinator at the college or NFL levels.
The Texans finished 18th in total offense and 13th in scoring under Caley. Production in both of the team’s playoff games proved challenging due in large part to a pair of turnover-laden performances from quarterback C.J. Stroud. The absence of Joe Mixon also hindered Houston’s effectiveness in the ground game, while No. 1 receiver Nico Collins was sorely missed during the Texans’ loss in the divisional round. Those factors will no doubt receive consideration as Ryans evaluates his next steps.
During the three years in which Houston has had Ryans on the sidelines and Stroud under center, the team has advanced to the divisional round of the postseason. The Texans’ ability to get over the hump in 2026 and beyond will depend of course on their ability to remain elite on defense. Needed improvements on offense will also be a target for this offseason, though.
Efforts in that regard will no doubt lead to a number of roster changes on offense over the coming months. It does not appear, however, as though another major shake-up on the sidelines is forthcoming.
They can’t scapegoat the offensive coordinator for the offensive line and Stroud every single offseason. Caley was widely seen as a future head coach this season. Slowik got a raise the offseason before he was fired. Maybe the OCs aren’t the problem. Maybe they need to build the line personnel better and maybe Stroud is more of a Derek Carr level QB than the future superstar he looked like as a rookie.
Slowik was scape goated for a disappointing season that saw Dell Diggs Collins all miss time. Not many QBs can sustain losing their receiving core. Look how well 1 receiver went for Rodgers this year
Kirk was brought in to replace Dell who missed all season but even Kirk wasn’t healthy all year himself.
Mixon missed all season and in their last game Collins, Brown, Schultz, Stover, and whoever Patterson replaced in the lineup didn’t last all game.
Only thing Stroud needs is guys to stay healthy. Thats about it.
Blaming Stroud for underperforming when guys get hurt makes about as much sense as blaming the OC for the offense struggling dealing with the same issues.
If stroud were that good, he would be able to elevate the play of those around him and not rely on his star players to elevate his performance
Do you say the same thing about Justin Herbert and him losing 16-3 in the playoffs to NE? Doubtful.
It’s widely understood Herbert dealt with not having his two all pro tackles, inconsistent RB room with Harris and Hampton injuries. Where’s your comments questioning his ability to be a franchise QB?
So…no retort, got it. you have been on every thread being the biggest stroud apologist out there over the past couple weeks. You blame everyone and everything other than stroud for his performance. I had enough reading your “stroud is the victim” rants that I decided to state the obvious, good QBs make the players around them better, not the other way around.
It is widely understood that stroud has regressed since his rookie year, you choose to think otherwise. It took me a while to realize Tua sucked, so I get it. For your sake, I hope you get there before they sign him to a cap killing contract
Where’s your comment questioning Justin Herbert’s ability to be a franchise QB?
I’ll wait.
Or is it that you make excuses for Herbert like injuries but won’t afford that same reason for Strojud. Why is that exactly? Wonder what the difference is?
“Regressed”
You mean his sophomore season where he didn’t have Collins, Dell, Diggs? Yeah real confusing why he wasn’t the same QB his sophomore season compared to his rookie season.
This past season he was on pace to post similar numbers to his rookie season before he missed 3 games due to concussion and that was without Kirk Dell and Mixon all season
But I understand if that’s too complicated of an answer for you to explain his regression.
So let me get this straight, someone compares stroud to Carr. You meltdown and blame everyone and defend stroud. I say, maybe stroud isn’t that good if he relies on others to make him successful. You make unhinged correlation to Herbert, on a Houston article, and expect me to bend the knee and say Herbert sucks too? Are you high or five?
What does Justin Herbert have to do with the comments or the article? What does Justin Herbert have to do with stroud’s performance? You can’t lump me into some Herbert loving but stroud hating narrative you have in your head. I am not a chargers fan and have never effused praise or hate upon Herbert. What I can tell you, if someone was defending herbert on every single article or comment where he was discussed with practically the same tired message, I would make a comment that maybe what they think isn’t true. Does that satisfy your request?
Stroud finishes 111th in QBR and you still incorrectly claim he’s regressing despite it being his highest QBR to date
So where’s those posts about every QB with a lower QBR regressing still waiting you’re running out of excuses
I think we found CJ’s burner account. Dude, you need help. Why do I need to post about other qbs when the topic of this thread is stroud? To make you feel good? You make no sense.
You want to focus so hard on me saying regressed, completely missing it was a sarcastic dig at your own choice of language. I just didn’t care enough to find the perfect word so I went with regressed when in actuality he looks more like a flash in the pan. If I could take it back, I would. I apologize. if we don’t call it regressed from his rookie year, what do we call it? Just gressed? It def isn’t progressed. This was fun. Thank you
I think we found out you’re bad at math
11/32 in QBR and he’s regressed
Lmao sure kid. I remember when fractions were hard for me back in elementary school.
Pure gold my guy. Your reading comprehension skills are on point. This is your response to me saying sorry for using regressed? To again argue the word I told you was part of a sarcastic joke? You spent all this time looking up qb stats and you are too dense to realize you did it all for nothing. Because you feel like you need to be right. CJ, I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.
Also great math. One fraction does not show a trend. Teach me more CJ, the wisest of wise men.
Welcome to the internet grandpa
I know decimals are hard too. And percentages.
QBR
2023 58.3 15th out of 32
2024 46.4 24th out of 32
2035 62.7, 11th out of 32
From least to greatest that would be 46.4, 58.3, and 62.7
Fractions from least to greatest would be
24/32, 15/32., 11/32
Completion %
2023 63.9%
2024 63.1%
2025 64.5%
In order from least to greatest that would be
63.1%, 63.9%, 64.5%
I know numbers are hard.
I notice your posts are completely devoid of any numbers backing up your claim he’s regressed. You keep saying he’s regressed but haven’t actually proven such.
Let me guess. You just regurgitate what you hear and aren’t capable of looking up stuff yourself or forming your own opinions. Sad
Stil waiting for those “other QBs have regressed” posts from you. If you need their QBRs let me know
“ It is widely understood that stroud has regressed since his rookie year, you choose to think otherwise.”
Stroud finished 2025 with a 61.8 QBR good for 11th in the league. 3 points higher than his rookie season and 15 higher than his sophomore season
Finished with a higher QBR than Mayfield Herbert Goff Nix Hurts Williams Darnold Lawrence
But please do tell us in your infinite knowledge how much he has regressed since it’s widely known apparently, despite facts saying youre full of it
So where’s those posts questioning Mayfield Herbert Goff Nix Hurts Williams Darnold Lawrence being franchise QBs? Feel free to post time and dates of your comments. We can wait take long as you need.
Stroud sucks Houston Roughneck just get used to it.
Better than your QB bandwagon
lol, Stroud has been bad way more than he’s been good in the NFL. Think it’s time people consider he does not read defenses well and no QB has all their weapons healthy or their line all season. He’s got one more year to prove he’s worth investing in, but if I’m the Texans I am absolutely not discussing a contract until I se better play from him especially when it matters. He’s looked scared and indecisive consistently throwing passes behind or dirting them to receivers. Super Bowl defense and the QB is holding them back.
Still better than your QB bandwagon
Stroud; the next average QB to be paid in excess of $55m/season.
Then dumped the next year, leaving the team with a cap nightmare for the next three.