Texans Rumors: Bill O'Brien, Houston Offense Had 'Verbal Blowup' Before Firing

Joseph Zucker @@JosephZuckerFeatured ColumnistOctober 5, 2020

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

A 31-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings appears to have been the final straw, but the Houston Texans may have decided well before that to fire head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien.

The Texans confirmed Monday that O'Brien was out:

Houston Texans @HoustonTexans
A statement from Cal McNair. https://t.co/5JbZylPTbp

According to ESPN's Dianna Russini, the coach "lost the team" two weeks ago as the situation deteriorated to the extent there was a "verbal blowup" during practice:

Dianna Russini @diannaESPN
I spoke with sources in Houston and they tell me two weeks ago is when it really started to fall apart. One source said “that’s when OB lost the team” The offense was beyond frustrated and it even turned into a verbal blowup at practice. #Texans

Many will argue O'Brien's ouster is long overdue. You can pick any number or reasons to justify his firing, most notably the DeAndre Hopkins trade and a general inability to adequately support franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Will Brinson @WillBrinson
Bill O'Brien traded DeAndre Hopkins for David Johnson, shipped out all the Texans draft picks, fired his GM and took total control of the organization, routinely put Deshaun Watson in physical harm with his play calling but it took an 8-point Week 4 Vikings loss to get him fired.

Danny Heifetz @Danny_Heifetz
Bill O’Brien... -traded DeAndre Hopkins for a second-rounder -traded a second-rounder for Brandin Cooks -gave Hopkins’s money to Randall Cobb -traded away Houston’s two first-rounders -signed Tunsil to a precedent-altering contract Ridiculous.

Field Yates @FieldYates
The Houston Texans are spending $255M in cash on their roster this season, more than any other team in the NFL. They owe their first- and second-round picks in 2021 to the Dolphins. They're currently 0-4.

Those problems predated the start of the 2020 season, so the only surprise was that the Texans would do this at a time when it's hard to undo the damage.

Russini's report sheds some light as to why ownership didn't persist with this doomed partnership any further.

CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora also reported some players voiced concerns with the Texans' pursuit of free-agent safety Earl Thomas: "His relationships with players were long suffering and Hopkins trade only intensified the tense atmosphere."

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ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sept. 28 the Texans were planning to sign Thomas. However, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reported the team reversed course after determining he "wasn't a good fit."

Now, the Texans are left with Romeo Crennel as their interim coach, and they'll almost certainly have to wait until the offseason to find O'Brien's permanent replacement. Houston is effectively looking at a lost season, not the outcome the team was expecting given how much it invested—financially and in draft capital—in the current roster.