Odds to Be Texans Next Head Coach Still Favor Chiefs OC Bieniemy, Brian Schottenheimer Moving Up the Board

• The Houston Texans will look to fill their head coaching vacancy now that their season has come to an end
• Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy remains the favorite to become Houston’s head coach
• See the odds for all candidates below

Now that the Texans’ season has come to an end, the team can begin it’s search for their next head coach. Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy remains the favorite to become the new Houston head coach, although his odds are longer than they were after Bill O’Brien was fired following an 0-4 start. (O’Brien was temporarily replaced by assistant Romeo Crenel.)

Bieniemy was +100 at that point, but his odds have worsened a bit as the season has played out and other candidates have emerged.

Odds to Be Texans Next Head Coach

Odds as of January 4

Schottenheimer On the Rise

Brian Schottenheimer was not even on the board when the Texans’ opening occurred, but his success in transforming the Seattle offense from an old-school — little red schoolhouse old school, really — run-first attack to a full embrace of the passing game behind quarterback Russell Wilson has raised his profile around the league.

Schottenheimer is the son of long-time NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, who is the eighth-winningest coach in NFL history.

Bieniemy Has Options

Bieniemy has worked with Andy Reid in Kansas City for eight seasons, the last three an offensive coordinator, and naturally is receiving plenty of play again after being seriously considered in the past two offseasons.

He was interviewed by the Jets before Adam Gase was hired in 2018, and the Jets already have requested to interview Bieniemy again.

And now the Jets officially requested Chiefs’ OC Eric Bieniemy for their HC job as well, per source. https://t.co/mcBM2SdhQ5

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2021

Left for hiring GMs to ponder is how much of the Chiefs’ success behind Hall of Famer-in-waiting Reid and superstar Patrick Mahomes has rubbed off on Bieniemy. Kansas City enters the postseason leading the NFL in total offense behind Mahomes, averaging 415.8 yards a game, 303.4 passing.

Houston’s Head Coaching Job Is Attractive

Houston is an attractive landing place, maybe second only to San Diego, in as much as both offer hot young quarterbacks on the rise.

Houston third-year quarterback Deshaun Watson passed for 4,823 yards (an NFL-high), 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while Chargers’ rookie Justin Herbert was sixth with 4,336 yards and threw an NFL rookie record 31 touchdowns passes.

Wink Martindale Brings Strong Defensive Credentials

Baltimore defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale, Carolina offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and Iowa State coach Matt Campbell have seen their odds improve during the season. Martindale had to manage his unit through severe COVID issues late in the year but still put together a group that finished second in the league in fewest points allowed per game (18.9) and seventh in fewest yards allowed (329.8).

Martindale signed a three-year contract in February that made him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the league, according to the NFL Network, although that should stand as no impediment.

Ravens DC Wink Martindale has built quite a 3-year resume for teams looking for a head coach …

Yards allowed per game: 1st
Points allowed PG: 1st
TDs allowed: 1st
TDs scored: 1st

Number of defensive starters: 42
Defensive players to take a snap: 65
Defensive players on IR: 21

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 4, 2021

As convincing as Martindale’s resume, Houston would be bucking a trend in hiring him. Denver’s Vic Fangio (hired in 2019) and Miami’s Brian Flores (2018) are the only two of the most recent round of NFL hires who did not have extensive experience on the offensive side of the ball, either as a coordinator or a head coach.

Houston has kept its candidate list close to the vest, although it already has interviewed NFL veterans Jim Caldwell and Marvin Lewis. Neither is considered a strong candidate.

The Most Intriguing Name: Matt Campbell

Iowa State’s Matt Campbell has become one of the hottest college coaches because his work in resuscitating an Iowa State program that has become the near-equal of long-standing powers Oklahoma and Texas.

Campbell has been named the Big 12 coach of the year three times in the last four years, and he has led the Cyclones to winning records each of the last four seasons, a school first. The Cyclones had the first nine-win season in program history with a 34-17 victory over Oregon in the Fiesta bowl.

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell: “Greatness isn’t just for the chosen few. Greatness is for those who choose to be different and demand to become the best version of themselves.”

Elite leader and program builder.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 3, 2021

Campbell’s innovative wrinkles on both sides of the ball seem to fit the the pro game. His offense features two tight ends, sometimes three, and behind them a power inside running game. The NFL has gravitated toward athletic tight ends recently years. (See Travis Kelce, Darren Waller et al).

However, I foresee Houston sticking to a coach already in the NFL.

Best bet: Schottenheimer: +350