Bizarre timing puts extra pressure on Texans to get GM hire right

When former general manager Rick Smith left the organization, the Houston Texans went all-in on head coach Bill O’Brien. Seventeen months later, they’re doubling down on that bet.

When Smith took his leave of absence, ownership gave its head coach the keys and allowed him to have significant input on their search for a new general manager. O’Brien got his guy in Brian Gaine, someone he said he was "aligned philosophically” with. At the time, O’Brien said while the Texans “interviewed some great candidates,” Gaine was “head and shoulders above everybody." The Texans gave Gaine a five-year contract and signed O’Brien to a four-year extension to match the new general manager’s deal.

Seventeen…