The Houston Texans have found their next play-caller.
According to reports, the Texans plan to hire Rams tight end coach and passing-game coordinator Nick Caley as their next offensive coordinator.
Caley, a fan-favorite to land the job, will replace Bobby Slowik, who was fired after two seasons.
Caley, 42, was one of the top names on the market this offseason after two seasons with Los Angeles. He was rumored to be the favorite to land the New York Jets offensive coordinator position. He interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator opening last week following Liam Coen’s departure to Jacksonville.
The #Texans are hiring Nick Caley as their offensive coordinator, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
A longtime #Patriots assistant, Caley spent the past two seasons with the #Rams. Another branch of the Shanahan/McVay tree headed to Houston. pic.twitter.com/owTN9Al22Q
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 3, 2025
Caley joined the Rams ahead of the 2023 season after spending six seasons as the tight ends/fullbacks coach for the New England Patriots. He’s considered one of the top influences in developing All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski entering the back half of his career.
In Caley’s first season, Gronkowski led all tight ends in receiving yards (1,084) and yards per reception (15.7) while earning his fifth Pro Bowl nod. He was also named an AP First-Team All-Pro selection.
That same season, fullback James Develin earned his first Pro Bowl nod under Caley’s watch.
As the pass-game coordinator, Caley spent time with Matthew Stafford, who posted strong numbers en route to a division title. The veteran quarterback finished with 20 touchdown passes against eight interceptions and completed 65.8% of his pass attempts.
Caley’s work with tight ends should benefit the Texans, too. Under his teaching last year, Tyler Higbee broke multiple franchise records for Los Angeles, including surpassing Harold Jackson for 14th all-time receiving yards.
Higbee also passed Jack Snow and Elroy Hirsch, moving into ninth all-time in franchise history in receptions.
Since Caley’s arrival, Higbee’s totaled 55 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns, though he was limited most of the 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL late last year.
Caley went to John Carroll University, the same alma mater as Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio. He was in New England during Caserio’s time before he departed for Houston in 2021.
The top task for the new play-caller will be to build a relationship with third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who suffered a sophomore slump in 2024 after guiding the Texans to a second AFC South division title.
He’ll also be tasked with fixing an offensive line that allowed 54 sacks last season, which was third-most in the league last year.
His rapport with the tight end position should lead to better results from Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover after an underwhelming campaign last fall.