Houston Texans Coaching News: Pep Hamilton Promoted to Offensive Coordinator

The Texans staff remains nearly the same with Lovie Smith’s promotion.

Tim Kelly’s 2021 season as the offensive coordinator in Houston was a failure. He couldn’t design a competent run game, the empty spread sets he used with Deshaun Watson were put in a box until late in the season when the Texans found themselves down big, and struggled to adjust to the changes defenses would make in the second half. He was fired this offseason, and has since moved on to Tennessee.

The man in line for a promotion was quarterback’s coach Pep Hamilton. He interviewed in Carolina, and other places, for their offensive coordinator position, but didn’t receive an offer. He remained on Houston’s staff during their head coach hiring process. With Lovie Smith’s hiring, Hamilton has promoted to offensive coordinator, and special teams coordinator Frank Ross will remain in Houston.

Hamilton lasted three seasons in Indianapolis as their offensive coordinator. He pulled Indy to their only AFC Championship Game appearance during the Andrew Luck era. Heavy formations, power run game, play action, all of it felt plain compared to the deep passing dare devil offense Bruce Arians ran with Luck his rookie year. Hamilton was fired after the 2015 season when Indy went 8-8, and was replaced with Rod Chudzinski, a name we all haven’t heard in years.

Who knows what a Hamilton offense looks like in 2022? At least there should be a comprehensive set of principles, and a set run scheme he can design. Plus Hamilton has experience working with Davis Mills, as Houston tries to see if they struck gold in the third round.

The past year Hamilton has garnered a cult following in Houston, as the sickos and sycophants clamored for him to be the offensive coordinator. Now they get their wish, and we will find out what he can accomplish in nine short months.