Deshaun Watson had a very good 2020 season for the Houston Texans to end with one of the worst NFL records. Watson led the NFL in passing yards (4,823) and yards per attempt (8.9), was third in percentage completion (70.2), seventh in touchdowns (33) and second in passer rating (112 , 4) – but the Texans finished 4-12 for the second time in four seasons.
Houston fired technician and general manager Bill O’Brien in October and the process began to find both positions. The Texans’ work is attractive because Watson is a proven franchise quarterback – and one of the best in the NFL – despite Houston having no choice in the first or second round in the 2021 draft and a hostile boundary situation.
A new coach can take Houston back to the top of AFC South, but Watson wants more than a master at Xs and Os.
“I mean, we just need a complete cultural change,” Watson told reporters on Monday. “We just need new energy. We need discipline, we need structure, we need a leader so that we can follow him as players. That’s what we need. We need to have love not only for the football game, because that is what we do, but the love for the people and the people in this organization. We all have to be on the same page.
“There are many different minds, many different ideas and many people who think they have that power and it is not like that. We need someone who stands out and that is what we are following and this is how it works, and we are going to do this to win.”
The Texans asked for permission to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the position of coach. Bieniemy led the Chiefs to the ranking attack in two of his three seasons as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, while helping Patrick Mahomes capture a league MVP in 2018 and a Super Bowl MVP last season.
Watson didn’t say much about Bieniemy’s potential interview, but it is a hiring he seems to be on board.
“I probably met him, I think, in passing – I think after a few games that we played against the Chiefs. I didn’t really sit down or get too close to him, but I didn’t hear anything but great things about him,” said Watson. “We will see where this goes, but I have heard nothing but great things from the coach and all the players in KC about Eric.”