INDIANAPOLIS – The Texans made it official, promoting Rod Wright to defensive line coach from assistant defensive line coach as the replacement for former defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, according to league sources.
The Texans hired former Indianapolis Colts defensive line coach Nate Ollie as assistant defensive line coach, per a source.
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When Cesaire’s contract expired and he was not renewed, he joined the Cleveland Browns as their defensive line coach.
The Texans set a franchise record with 46 sacks this past season as they won the AFC South championship and a wild-card playoff game. They also finished sixth in run defense.
Cesaire coached Pro Bowl alternate defensive end Jonathan Greenard as he recorded a career-high 12 1/2 sacks.
Now, Cesaire, a former NFL defensive lineman originally hired by former coach Lovie Smith, is moving on.
“We did some great things over there,” Cesaire told KPRC 2. “Got nothing but love for those guys. It’s all good.”
Wright, a Houston native, is a former University of Miami defensive ends coach.
A former All-Big 12 and All-American selection at the University of Texas who was teammates with San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan with the Longhorns, Wright is a former Miami Dolphins seventh-round draft pick.
Wright grew up in Houston and was an All-American and all-district selection at Alief Hastings.
Playing for Mack Brown, Wright was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-Big 12 selection.
Wright has coached at East Carolina, Sam Houston State, Texas San-Antonio.
At UTSA, he was co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.
He had Bill Walsh Diversity coaching fellowships with the Seattle Seahawks and 49ers. He was also a student assistant and defensive special assistant at Texas.
The Colts had a franchise-record 51 sacks last season with Ollie coaching a defensive line led by DeForest Buckner, Samson Ebukam and Kwity Paye.
Ollie has previous stints with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles.
He is a former Ball State defensive lineman.
The Texans also hired linebackers coach Bill Davis as the replacement for linebackers coach Chris Kiffin, who is no longer on the coaching staff, per sources.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.