Houston Texans fire head coach Lovie Smith after one season

The Houston Texans have fired coach Lovie Smith, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Smith was in just his first season with the team and directed them to a 3-13-1 finish.

The Texans won their final game of the regular season Sunday, 32-31 after scoring a two-point conversion against the Indianapolis Colts. The win cost Houston the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Houston was Smith’s third stop in the NFL, as he previously coached the Chicago Bears (2004-12) and Tampa Bay Bucaneers (2014-15). He also served as the head coach at Illinois from 2016-20 before joining the Texans as associate head coach in 2021.

“Nick Caserio and I spoke with Lovie Smith tonight and informed him that we will be moving in a different direction as an organization,” Texans CEO Cal McNair said in a statement. “I appreciate coach Smith and his family for their contributions over the last two seasons. We are grateful for their leadership and character, and we wish him the best moving forward.

“While we understand that the results have not been what we had hoped for, we are committed to building a program that produces long-term, sustainable success. Our fans and city deserve a team that they can be proud of. I will work alongside Nick Caserio throughout this process and I’m confident we will find the right leader for our football team.”

Lovie Smith is the third Texans head coach to be fired in as many seasons, as Houston also fired David Culley last year following a 4-13 finish. Bill O’Brien was fired the season before in his seventh year. The Texans are now responsible for paying the remaining contracts of all three coaches. Smith’s payment will take place on a five-year deal.

Smith, 64 led the Bears to Super Bowl XLI in 2006. His overall record as an NFL head coach is 91-100.