Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik loves the game of football so much that he says it used to keep him up at night thinking about ways to make the Texans offense more efficient. He is constantly looking for different angles to take so that dynamic rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud’s job can be easier when taking snaps on Sunday.
The former offensive passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers has excelled in the role given to him by his former colleague turned Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. Slowik has overcome a lot of adversity when calling plays in his first year. He lost dynamic wide receiver Tank Dell midway through the season and has had to work around the loss of Stroud, wide receiver Nico Collins, and offensive lineman for multiple games this season.
Still, he has helped the Texans turn an inefficient offense that ranked 31st in the NFL last season to one of the more prolific offenses in the league as they finish the season ranked 12th.
That is why it is unsurprising that Slowik has become one of the hottest candidates for NFL head coaching vacancies. The Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders have asked for permission to speak to Slowik as he is at the top of their list as they search for offensive-minded coaches to help their young quarterbacks move to the next level like Stroud, who will more than likely win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik says he is only focused on the Wild Card game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday and not any head coaching position. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/0VKWiX7EWn
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) January 10, 2024
Yet, Slowik is not worried about the outside noise as he has to focus on the NFL Wild Card game against the Cleveland Browns this Saturday and their ferocious defense, which ranks in the top ten of most NFL defensive stats.
“Yeah, it’s really easy to handle right now,” said Slowik when asked how he handles the request to be interviewed for head coaching jobs. “We’re locked in on Cleveland. We’re full speed ahead, kind of keeping our heads down in the dark. All of that stuff, I’m very grateful. I’m thankful to the Lord for giving me this opportunity. I’m thankful to Nick [Caserio] and DeMeco [Ryans], and the Texans organization for putting me in this position, but right now, I’m a Houston Texan.”
“I’m part of this organization and I’m going to do everything I can to help us win Cleveland. Everyone’s energy right now in this organization is devoted to, ‘how do we play one more game?’ How do we keep playing just one more game? We really have, what I believe is a special group of individuals. I know offensively there’s guys in that room that I just can’t imagine having to do this without right now. To really, as much as we can, just find a way to get four more games out of this – that’s really what all of us are devoted to.”
One person who Slowik can call upon for advice when dealing with the pressure of trying to navigate putting a game plan together while blocking out the outside is Ryans, who went through a similar process last season when he was defensive coordinator with the 49ers last season. Ryans name was one of the hottest on the market while he was trying to help San Francisco reach the Super Bowl.
“Yeah, my advice to Bobby is to be selective,” Ryans said on Tuesday during his press conference. “You only get one opportunity to do it, and you want to make sure you’re selective and that you’re going to – if you get the opportunity – going to a place that you feel like you can be effective.”
