<\/p>\n
The Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley is seen before an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley, left, gives a fist-bump to backup quarterback Davis Mills during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley, left, is seen alongside head coach Demeco Ryans, right, during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley works with the offense during pre-game warm ups before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
When the Houston Texans<\/a> departed for vacation two weeks ago after minicamp, offensive coordinator Nick Caley <\/a>was among those who left town.<\/p>\n He spent the first week back home in Canton, Ohio, and planned to go on a two-week family vacation to Ireland afterward.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a new experience for Caley, who rarely takes time off and has traveled out of the country only once in his 43 years.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I\u2019ve been sheltered,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n This six-week layoff for the Texans will be an opportunity for Caley and his staff to regroup before training camp begins next month. After a season that ended in the divisional round, largely because the offense faltered that night, Caley is trying to help the 2026 offense reach new heights in his second season calling plays.<\/p>\n ROSTER PROJECTION:\u00a0 Jonathan M. Alexander picks a 53-man unit<\/a><\/p>\n Last season, the Texans were hampered by several key injuries early on and an inefficient running game. It led to a slow start to the 2025 season as the offense struggled to find its identity. Caley had to adjust, and eventually the Texans’ offense found a formula that worked for 10 games, although it came apart after wide receiver Nico Collins suffered a concussion against Pittsburgh in the wild-card round and missed the loss to New England in the divisional round.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four costly interceptions in the loss.<\/p>\n When the season ended, Caley said he went back and looked at everything: what went wrong, what went right, how they could improve and what pieces they needed to accomplish that.<\/p>\n He spoke to the Chronicle in an exclusive interview recently. He admits that perhaps he was a little too ambitious coming in as a first-time play-caller, realizing the personnel on the roster didn’t fit what he was initially trying to do.<\/p>\n He said early in the season they had become too pass-heavy and needed to adjust.<\/p>\n QUESTION MARKS: Five things to consider before training camp<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cYou always want balance, and each game is a little different,\u201d Caley told the Chronicle. \u201cI think we found a way to even that out as the season progressed. So finding a way to do that. And balance doesn’t come necessarily in terms of a 50-50 run-pass ratio, but it\u2019s also the usage of different players.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s why Houston added several tight ends this offseason. The Texans signed veteran Foster Moreau to a two-year deal and drafted rookie Marlin Klein in the second round. Brevin Jordan is also returning from a knee injury that ended his 2025 season before it got started.<\/p>\n Those moves, along with the trade for running back David Montgomery, give the Texans greater flexibility.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can get bigger on the edges,\u201d Caley said. \u201cYou can deploy different types of blocking schemes with different surfaces that you\u2019re attacking. Tight ends are an extension of the offensive line.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can get sturdy, we can control the edges, that always is going to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n With every offseason comes change.<\/p>\n