The Houston Texans are letting go of quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Johnson joined the staff in 2023 following the hiring of head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Beyond the timing, Thursday’s move is somewhat surprising because the 37-year-old had made enough of an impression outside of Houston to get a second interview with the Philadelphia Eagles during their search for an offensive coordinator.
This is the second successive offseason in which the Texans have made a notable change to their offensive staff. They fired coordinator Bobby Slowik in January 2025.
To a large degree, the changes reflect the way in which franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud has regressed since his rookie season.
Stroud threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns to five interceptions in 15 starts in 2023. His 273.9 yards per game were the most in the NFL.
The young passer simply hasn’t looked the same over the past two years. In 31 appearances, he has 39 touchdowns and 20 interceptions while averaging 218.3 yards per contest. He’s also had an 89.6 quarterback rating and a 46.4 QBR, per Pro Football Reference.
The lasting image of Houston’s 2025 season is Stroud throwing four interceptions in a divisional round loss to the New England Patriots.
The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander suggested Jerry Schuplinski could take over as the quarterbacks coach. Schuplinski is a senior offensive analyst and pass game specialist, having come over from the Los Angeles Rams last offseason.
The Texans are entering a pivotal period with Stroud. He has one more guaranteed year in his rookie contract and then a $27.2 million club option for 2027.
This week, general manager Nick Caserio affirmed the team’s commitment to Stroud for now and called any trade rumors “moronic.” Still, the front office has to be asking questions about whether re-signing him to a market-level extension is good business right now.
Stroud can put those doubts to bed with a big 2026 campaign, and a new QB coach may help him achieve that.