Bobby Slowik was the headliner of Houston Texans‘ coaches to be let go following Saturday’s divisional-round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but he wasn’t the only one.
According to multiple reports, Texans do not plan to renew contracts for offensive assistants Jarrod James and Leander Wallace and defensive assistant Ryan Milus. Their contracts have all expired.
The three coaches join Slowik and offensive line coach Chris Strausser. After conflicting reports, assistant offensive line coach Cole Popovich was not fired, though his contract expired and might leave depending on the new offensive coordinator.
Following #Texans assistant coaches’ contracts have expired now and they are not expected to return: offensive assistants Leander Wallace, Jarrod James and defensive assistant Ryan Milus, per source. @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 25, 2025
Wallace joined the Texans in 2021 and worked in various roles, initially in the football operations department before becoming a coach. James joined the staff after spending time in East Lansing as Michigan State’s assistant offensive line coach.
Milus was hired when DeMeco Ryans arrived from San Francisco in 2023.
After the nine-point loss last week, Ryans said he wanted to take the franchise to new heights after struggling to get over the hump. Houston has won 10-plus games back-to-back years but lost in the divisional round to the top seed as the lowest-ranked divisional winner.
“That’s how this business has been since I’ve been involved in almost 20 years now, it changes every single year,” Ryans said. “So that happens, there’ll be difficult conversations to have but that is the nature of what we do.”
A new offensive coordinator is expected to be hired within the week. Both special teams coordinator Frank Ross and defensive coordinator Matt Burke are expected back for 2025.
