Jerrod

Johnson

The Texans opted not to bring back Johnson, whose contract expired after the 2025 season. The 37-year-old coach served as the Vikings’ assistant QB coach in 2022 before being hired by the Texans in 2023 to help with the development of C.J. Stroud. Johnson’s role with the Eagles has not yet been specified, but NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports Johnson will “work alongside HC Nick Sirianni and new OC Sean Mannion.”

Technically, the Texans let his contract expire. They’re reportedly elevating senior offensive assistant-pass game specialist Jerry Schuplinski — yet another John Carroll / Patriots legacy guy — to quarterbacks coach. It’s an uninspiring move considering Johnson has interviewed for several OC vacancies over the past few years.

Johnson interviewed for the role in-person today, having advanced to the second round of interviews earlier this week. He was previously linked to the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator vacancy as well. Johnson has served in his current role with the Texans since 2023.

Johnson interviewed for the Dolphins’ offensive-coordinator vacancy earlier this month but ultimately lost out to Bobby Slowik. Johnson has served as the Texans’ quarterbacks coach since 2023, and worked with the Colts (2020-2021) and Vikings before that. Should he leave for Philly, Johnson, who has never served as an offensive coordinator, would benefit from having proven veterans like Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley already in the building.

Johnson received several offensive coordinator interviews following C.J. Stroud’s breakout rookie season. That was all the way back at the end of the 2023 season. Stroud regressed in 2024 and the Texans fired OC Bobby Slowik. Johnson was a candidate to replace him, but the team ultimately chose an outside voice in Nick Caley. With Stroud playing better this year, there is again some interest in Johnson as an OC. Johnson would join a Miami team without any answers at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be released and the team doesn’t have a high enough pick in the draft to land a premier rookie quarterback. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Johnson stick in Houston for another year in search of better opportunities next offseason.

Johnson has played a key role in C.J. Stroud’s growth and development and could soon be the replacement for the now-departed Bobby Slowik. Johnson broke into coaching with the Colts back in 2020 as an offensive quality control coach and went on to work as the Vikings’ assistant QB coach in 2022. He joined the Texans as part of head coach DeMeco Ryans’ staff in 2023 and is now “regarded as a top internal candidate” to win the OC job, per Wilson. Johnson is also expected to speak with Aaron Glenn and the Jets in the coming days. Johnson interviewed with six different teams about their offensive coordinator vacancies last offseason and could once again be in high demand as other teams begin to fill out their staffs.

Rap added that Cole Popovich is the top candidate to fill Houston’s vacancy at offensive line coach. Johnson received numerous offensive coordinator interviews last offseason following C.J. Stroud’s historic rookie campaign. Stroud regressed drastically in his second season, leading the Texans to fire OC Bobby Slowik. Houston will also interview outside candidates for the gig, but Johnson may have the inside track.

Despite interest from teams for offensive coordinator positions, Johnson is sticking with the Texans. The team just agreed to a new deal with OC Bobby Slowik and is now bringing back their QB coach to work with C.J. Stroud for at least another season after a successful first year between Slowik, Johnson, and Stroud. The young Texans offense is looking to run it back and build upon the team’s playoff berth from this season.

Johnson has emerged as an attractive coordinator candidate after his work with C.J. Stroud this season. “Yeah, you can’t talk about C.J. success without talking about Jerrod and what he was able to do, the relationship he had with him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said last week. He is one of three confirmed candidates to get an in-person interview for the Bucs’ job, which opened up after Dave Canales was hired to be the head coach of the Panthers. The other candidates are Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and former Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Johnson is also a candidate for the coordinator position in New Orleans, where he has interviewed twice.

According to Rooney, who the team brings in as its next offensive coordinator is entirely up to Tomlin; Rooney added that he and GM Omar Khan share ideas regularly with Tomlin. The Steelers recently interviewed former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, whose days as the Titans’ offensive coordinator (2019-2020) helped land him his first head coaching gig, but other candidates have also been vetted, including Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson. Who the Steelers bring on as their next offensive coordinator could go a long way in determining Mike Tomlin’s fate with the team beyond 2024. Tomlin is in the final year of his contract and will be desperate to roll out an improved team after last year’s 28th-ranked offense did anything but carry them to their 10-7 record.