The Houston Texans hired David Culley as the team’s fourth head coach in the franchise’s history. Culley joins the Texans from the Baltimore Ravens, where he served the past two seasons (2019-20) as assistant head coach / pass coordinator / wide receivers coach. Culley has 27 years of experience as a coach in the NFL and 43 seasons in total as a coach, after a 16-year high school career. As an NFL coach, Culley won 10 division titles, made the playoffs in 17 different seasons and appeared in six conference championship games.
“Throughout his coaching career, David has demonstrated the ability to lead and bring people together,” said Texans President and CEO Cal McNair. “David brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our team as someone who has seen everything in this league. In his more than 40 years of training, David has learned from many of the best NFL coaches while helping players move around the field so much. physical and the mental side of the game Highly respected individuals from across the league contacted us throughout the process in support of David because of his unique ability to connect with the people around him and his passion for the game and the relationships he creates. During our meetings with David, it became evident that he has the energy, communication skills and vision needed to build a winning program. We are excited to welcome David, Carolyn and the Culley family at Houston Texans. “
“Entering this process, it was imperative to find a head coach that our entire organization could support and David is unquestionably that leader,” said Texas general manager Nick Caserio. “David’s infectious energy, passion for the game and the ability to run a room were clear from the start. As he shared his vision of how a coach should lead a football team, this further solidified our belief in him. His mentality to be selfless and the willingness to accept any challenge while investing in each person on our program resonated with all of us. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome David Culley and his family in Houston as the next Texan head coach . “
“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Janice, Cal and Hannah McNair for the incredible opportunity to be the next Houston Texans coach,” said Culley. “To say that I am excited and that this is a dream that has come true is an understatement. Along the way, countless people, organizations, family and friends have joined me and prepared a path for me. My genuine hope is that this moment it’s both theirs and mine. Let’s work and do it together! “
As assistant chief coach / pass coordinator / coach for the 2019-20 wide receivers, Culley helped with the attack by creating a passing scheme that complemented the team’s dynamic and fast attack. In 2020, Baltimore recorded the seventh highest number of points per game (29.3) in the league, despite several key players both on and off the roster. Ravens’ attack was instrumental in closing the season in a five-game winning streak to reach the playoffs, averaging 37.2 points per game during that period. Their work with the Ravens’ attack in 2019 made them lead the NFL with 33.2 points per game. The unit also took second place in total yards per game (407.6), setting franchise records for touchdowns (64), points (531), total net yards (6,521), running yards (3,296), first runs (386) and less turns (15).
Before joining Ravens, Culley spent 2017-18 as a quarterback coach for Bills. In 2018, he helped develop QB Josh Allen, who posted the franchise record for the highest total number of touchdowns (18) produced by a new Bills quarterback. In addition, Allen set quarterback records in the franchise for the most run yards in a game (135), run touchdowns in a single season (eight) and run yards in one season (631). Culley also worked with QB Tyrod Taylor in 2017, when he passed 2,799 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading Buffalo to a 9-7 season and the franchise’s first playoff spot since 1999.
Culley served as assistant chief coach / wide receivers coach with the Chiefs under Andy Reid from 2013-16, where he helped the team reach a cumulative 43-21 record. In 2016, Culley guided rookie WR Tyreek Hill through 61 receptions for 593 yards and a team record of six touchdowns, en route to the 12-4 record in Kansas City and a division title. In the previous season, WR Jeremy Maclin totaled 1,088 reception yards in his first year with the team and set a single season franchise record for the largest number of receptions (87) by a wideout. In 2013, the team won at least 11 games for the first time since 2003.
Culley spent 14 seasons with the Eagles (1999-2012) as a wide receiver trainer from 1999 to 2010 and as a senior attack assistant / wide receiver trainer in 2011-12. During his tenure, Philadelphia made nine playoff appearances, advancing to five NFC games and a Super Bowl (2004). Culley developed WR Jeremy Maclin with the Eagles, and in his first three seasons (2009-11) with Philadelphia, Maclin picked up more passes (189) than any other wide receiver in the franchise’s history. In 2009-10, the Eagles made it to the playoffs in successive years and won the NFC East Division in 2010. Culley worked closely with WR DeSean Jackson during those seasons and helped him win the first two Pro Bowl selections of his career.
From 1999 to 2008, Culley and the Eagles won the NFC East Division five times and made the NFC Championship Game on five different occasions. Under Culley’s training in 2004, WR Terrell Owens earned First Team All-Pro honors by registering 77 receptions for 1,200 yards and a franchise record of 14 touchdowns. Philadelphia would advance to Super Bowl XXXIX against New England behind Owens’ tremendous season. In 2002, the Eagles’ attack was fourth in the NFL in points per game (25.9) and WR Todd Pinkston recorded a team record with seven touchdown receptions. From 2000 to 2004, Philadelphia won 59 regular season games, which remains the highest number in any five-year period in the franchise’s history.
Culley was hired as a trainer for Steelers’ wide receivers in 1996 and spent three seasons (1996-98) in that role with the team. In 1997, he assisted WR Yancey Thigpen in his Pro Bowl season, when he recorded a career record of 1,398 reception yards and seven touchdowns with Pittsburgh making 11-5 and won the division. Culley came to the Steelers after working the previous two years (1994-95) with the Buccaneers as a coach for the wide receivers.
Before coaching in the NFL, Culley had several coaching stops in college over a 16-year period. He was the wide receivers trainer at Texas A&M from 1991-93 and the offensive coordinator / running backs / wide receivers trainer at the University of Texas-El Paso from 1989-90. During his time as a quarterback coach in southwest Louisiana (1985-88), Culley coached Brian Mitchell, who became the first player in NCAA history to pass more than 5,000 yards and run more than 3,000 yards in his career. He also made coaching stops in Western Kentucky (1984), Tennessee-Chattanooga (1983), Middle Tennessee State (1982), Vanderbilt (1979-81) and Austin Peay (1978).
Culley was recruited to play at Vanderbilt University by Bill Parcells, who was the defensive coordinator there at the time. He was a four-year card winner (1973, 1975-77) and the first black quarterback to play for the Commodores. Culley grew up in Sparta, Tennessee and played football, basketball and baseball at White County High School.
Culley and his wife, Carolyn, raised two children, Monty and Jessie.
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