The Texans interviewed Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon for their offensive coordinator job, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.
The team is seeking to replace offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who they fired after the season.
Syracuse had the No. 1 passing offense in the country as quarterback Kyle McCord broke the ACC single-season passing record in Nixon’s first season with the Orange. McCord threw for 4,779 passing yards to break the record held by former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Nixon called the plays for the Panthers under head coach Matt Rhule after the team fired Joe Brady as offensive coordinator in 2021, so he has limited experience calling plays in the NFL.
Nixon has coached with the Eagles (2007-10), Dolphins (2011-15), 49ers (2016), Panthers (2020-22) and Giants (2023) in his NFL career. He mainly coached the running backs as a position coach.
The Texans hired Mike Tomon as the new team president, the club announced on Monday.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Mike Tomon to our Texans family,” Chairman and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement. “Mike is a proven leader who brings more than 20 years of experience in sports and entertainment to our team. His extensive background in stadium development and passion for inspiring those around him shined during our conversations. As we enter this next chapter as an organization, I’m looking forward to the future of our business operations under his leadership.”
Tomon will oversee the direction and management of all Texans’ business operations including marketing, communications, broadcasting, ticket sales and services, event services, corporate sponsorship, community relations, accounting, legal, human resources and general administration, as well as overseeing all aspects of Lone Star Sports & Entertainment.
Tomon has worked at Legends — a company formed in 2008 by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner — since 2014, most recently as the co-president & chief operating officer. He was responsible for global operations, including domestic and international revenue generation and growth across their 360-degree service solution platform.
During Tomon’s tenure, Legends had several strategic acquisitions that led to substantial growth while establishing partnerships with global brands such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, FIFA and the Rugby World Cup. He also was involved in commercial engagements of NFL venues such as SoFi Stadium, Allegiant Stadium, Highmark Stadium and The Star in Frisco, while also assisting with the 2024 Olympics in Paris and 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I’m honored to join the Texans during such a fun and exciting time,” Tomon said. “I want to thank Janice, Cal, Hannah, and the McNair family for giving me this incredible opportunity to join the NFL. I love working with people who are passionate about their work and love what they do, and it was clear in our conversations that the McNairs love this organization and the city of Houston. Their vision for this team and aspirations to be champions in every way allowed us to connect immediately. I also want to thank my wife, Lauren, and my two children for their support, we’re all thrilled about the opportunity to move to Houston. I know that Texans fans are among the most passionate in the NFL, and I can’t wait to get started.”
The Chiefs have heard the talk about the officials helping them win. And one of them doesn’t want to hear any more of it.
Tweeted linebacker Drue Tranquill after Sunday night’s win over the Bills that sent the Chiefs to their fifth Super Bowl in six years: “Shoutout to the [Buffalo Bills] .. heck of a battle. The rest of y’all can take all that ‘ref’ talk & kick rocks. We stand on business!!”
Talk of the NFL and its officials having a Chiefs bias has reached a fever pitch in the current postseason. Fans of Kansas City’s opponents — and the growing throng of neutrals who are developing an acute case of Chiefs fatigue — have been arguing that the games are being rigged for the Chiefs.
My own position is simple. First, the NFL doesn’t rig games. Second, subconscious bias from officials who understand the connection between star players and big ratings possibly creeps into the stew of factors that result in a flag being thrown, or not thrown. Throw in the fact that the rulebook expressly requires roughing-the-passer calls to be made even when there’s doubt in the mind of officials and, yes, certain players from certain teams could be getting calls that others don’t.
That hasn’t stopped some from trying to find evidence of potential bias — and from such efforts receiving blowback. From former Chiefs players. From others in the media. And from a convenience store chain.
None of this changes the narrative. It doesn’t help that two hits on quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the divisional round game that drew flags didn’t result in fines. It also doesn’t help that the NFL’s imperfect protocol for spotting the ball potentially robbed the Bills of a key conversion on fourth and short with the game in the balance.
But think of it this way. If there was some sort of conspiracy aimed at helping the Chiefs, the league would have covered its tracks by issuing fines for the plays that drew flags. (The players could then appeal and win — but well after the confetti had fallen at Super Bowl LIX.) Also, the NFL would have potentially gotten word to CBS about the sensitivity of saying anything during the AFC Championship broadcast that would feed the trolls.
Regardless, perception can become reality. The perception is out there. Even if there’s an enormous gulf between what people are saying and what’s actually going on.
The Eagles and Chiefs will meet in Super Bowl LIX, and this is how the path to the 2025 Super Bowl unfolded:
AFC Playoff Bracket
1. Kansas City Chiefs beat Texans 23-14 in divisional round, beat Bills 32-29 in AFC Championship Game.
2. Buffalo Bills beat Broncos 31-7 in wild card round, beat Ravens 27-25 in divisional round, lost to Chiefs 32-29 in AFC Championship Game.
3. Baltimore Ravens beat Steelers 28-14 in wild card round, lost to Bills 27-25 in divisional round.
4. Houston Texans beat Chargers 32-12 in wild card round, lost to Chiefs 23-14 in divisional round.
5. Los Angeles Chargers lost to Texans 32-12 in wild card round.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers lost to Ravens 28-14 in wild card round.
7. Denver Broncos lost to Bills 31-7 in wild card round.
NFC Playoff Bracket
1. Detroit Lions lost to Commanders 45-31 in divisional round.
2. Philadelphia Eagles beat Packers 22-10 in wild card round, beat Rams 28-22 in divisional round, beat Commanders 55-23 in NFC Championship Game.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to Commanders 23-20 in wild card round.
4. Los Angeles Rams beat Vikings 27-9 in wild card round, lost to Eagles 28-22 in divisional round.
5. Minnesota Vikings lost to Rams 27-9 in wild card round.
6. Washington Commanders beat Buccaneers 23-20 in wild card round, beat Lions 45-31 in divisional round, lost to Eagles 55-23 in NFC Championship Game.
7. Green Bay Packers lost to Eagles 22-10 in wild card round.
Playoff Schedule
Wild card round
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Texans 32, Chargers 12.
Ravens 28, Steelers 14.
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Bills 31, Broncos 7.
Eagles 22, Packers 10.
Commanders 23, Buccaneers 20.
Monday, January 13, 2025
Rams 27, Vikings 9.
Divisional Round
Saturday, January 18, 2025
Chiefs 23, Texans 12.
Commanders 45, Lions 31.
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Eagles 28, Rams 22.
Bills 27, Ravens 25.
Conference Championships
Sunday, January 26, 2025
NFC Championship: Eagles 55, Commanders 23.
AFC Championship: Chiefs 32, Bills 29.
Super Bowl LIX
Sunday, February 9, 2025
6:30 p.m. ET: Chiefs vs. Eagles (Fox)
Last Saturday’s Texans-Chiefs playoff game included a pair of controversial penalty flags thrown after hits applied to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Neither of the two fouls, one for roughing the passer and one for unnecessary roughness after a late slide, drew fines.
The NFL did not fine Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. for a first-quarter roughing the passer foul. The league also did not fine defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi or linebacker Henry To’oTo’o for their Malachi crunch after Mahomes slid in the second half.
Both fouls prompted criticism of Chiefs bias on the part of officials. The fact that they weren’t fined suggests that, after more careful consideration of the film, the NFL decided that the hits did not merit punishment — which suggests that the flags shouldn’t have been thrown.
That said, the roughing-the-passer rule expressly requires officials to throw the flag even when in doubt as to whether roughing actually happened.
Of course, both Anderson and Texans running back Joe Mixon were fined for commenting on the officiating after the game.
