Texans expected to hire Ravens assistant David Culley as head coach

After a lengthy search full of twists and turns, the Houston Texans are expected to name Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach David Culley as their next head coach, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed. 

The person spoken condition of anonymity because the Texans had not yet made the move official.

The 65-year-old Culley has 27 seasons of NFL coaching experience. The last two years, he served as Baltimore’s wide receivers coach, assistant head coach and passing game coordinator. Now he gets his first head coaching position of his career. 

Culley, the first Black candidate hired this offseason, fills the final coaching vacancy of this cycle. 

He becomes one of the rare non-play-callers to become a head coach, but he is well-respected around the league for his knowledge, coaching and leadership skills. 

Former players describe him as an exceptional communicator, motivator and teacher. 

Peers also praise Culley for his high character.

Culley, a native of Sparta, Tennessee, previously served as Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach for two seasons and prior to that worked primarily as a wide receivers coach for Kansas City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay after 15 years in the college ranks. 

Because he is a minority, the Ravens will receive two third-round draft picks as compensation — part of the NFL’s new incentive program for developing and promoting candidates up the coaching ladder. 

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David Culley has 27 seasons of NFL coaching experience under his belt, the past two coming with the Baltimore Ravens. (Photo: Scott Galvin, USA TODAY Sports)

Culley assumes a tough challenge of changing the culture of a Texans franchise that in the last year has gone from playoff squad to disarray. 

Franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson reportedly has wanted to be traded because of his frustration with Houston brass’ poor decision making. 

Houston fired coach/GM Bill O’Brien four weeks into the season and hired former Patriots executive Nick Caserio as general manager. 

Caserio interviewed Culley and Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier twice before settling on Culley. He also interviewed Kansas City’s Eric Bieniemy and Indianapolis' Matt Eberflus for the head coaching job. 

Culley’s hiring marks the end of a frustrating hiring cycle for coaches of color. Even after the league sought to strengthen the Rooney Rule in hopes of producing more head coaching candidates, only two minorities (Robert Saleh to the Jets, and Culley) filled seven coaching openings. 

Culley joins Mike Tomlin and Brian Flores as the only Black head coaches in the NFL. 

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