Lovie Smith Fired; Steelers Assistant Brian Flores Name to Watch for Texans Job

The Houston Texans will begin their search for a fourth head coach in as many years after firing Lovie Smith Sunday night, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently connected Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach Brian Flores to the job opening.

Flores interviewed and was a finalist to be Houston’s head coach last off-season but was passed over for the former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers boss, who steered the team to a 3-13-1 mark this go-round. Flores later said that he felt as if he didn’t get the job because of the federal lawsuit he filed against the NFL, alleging racial discrimination.

With three years of head coaching experience from his time in Miami, Flores has shown to be a capable leader. The Dolphins seemed to be trending upward when he was fired last year, with new head coach Mike McDaniel reaping the benefits from the foundation that was laid by the former longtime New England assistant coach. Betting odds have suggested that Flores could be targeted by other teams in their searches, as well.

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With Romeo Crennel, David Culley, and Smith at the helm over the past three campaigns, the Houston Texans have gone a combined 10-38. They’ll have the second overall pick in this spring’s NFL Draft, with a crop of promising quarterbacks — such as Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud — and other talents available.

As any team with so much turnover and failures over a short span, Houston is still in rebuilding mode and will pose a challenge to anyone who takes over. Historically, the Texans aren’t considered among the elite franchises, having posted only four seasons with 10 or more wins since joining the league as an expansion team in 2002.