Sources: Texans, quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson mutually part ways

INDIANAPOLIS – The Texans and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson have mutually parted ways, per a league source.

Although the relationship between Johnson and quarterback C.J. Stroud goes back to the Rancho Cucamonga native’s high school days in California and remains a strong one, per a source, the feeling was that this had run its course. Johnson is expected to have other NFL and college football opportunities, per sources.

The Texans will shift to senior offensive assistant Jerry Schuplinski, a veteran former New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders assistant, to coach Stroud in tandem with offensive coordinator Nick Caley, per sources.

A John Carroll University graduate and former football player, Schuplinski was an offensive assistant under Bill Belichick in New England later promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach working with Tom Brady. He was the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants quarterbacks coach previously and has been a senior offensive assistant with the Raiders and Rams.

The Texans previously parted ways with tight ends coach Jake Moreland, now the Arizona Cardinals tight ends coach, and assistant linebackers coach Ben Bolling, now the New York Jets linebackers coach. Assistant offensive line coach Zach Yenser was hired by the Miami Dolphins as their head offensive line coach. And the Texans hired former NFL center and New York Giants assistant offensive line coach James Ferentz to coach tight ends.

Johnson had been requested by the Philadelphia Eagles to interview for their offensive coordinator vacancy earlier this offseason.

Johnson was previously a candidate for the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator job that went to former Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Johnson has interviewed for several offensive coordinator positions in the past.

Stroud, a former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, had a rough playoffs with five interceptions and five forced fumbles, but his overall body of work has been successful and included three playoff wins and eight interceptions this past regular season.

“It’s pretty cool, man,” Johnson told KPRC 2 previously when asked about Stroud. “I never take my job, my situation that I’m in, my relationship with C.J. for granted. He’s a special young man, and I think we have a special relationship. Just to see him get better every week, to see his growth from then to now and just to know the potential that he has, I think the sky’s the limit.

“Whatever is the best version of himself, we’re chasing that every single day to push him to there, He works really hard, he cares. The sky’s the limit for him.”

Johnson, 37, has coached Stroud, a 24-year-old former Pro Bowl selection, second overall pick, two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and consensus All-American, for his first three NFL seasons.

During the past eight years, Johnson’s career has taken off.

The former record-setting Texas A&M quarterback and Humble native has gone from Bill Walsh fellowships with the San Francisco 49ers and Colts to a full-time quality control coach with the Colts, an assistant quarterbacks coach with the Minnesota Vikings and the lead quarterbacks coach with his hometown NFL team since Stroud was drafted three years ago.

“Me being a kid back then, being 16 years old, meeting him, and now being 24, it’s crazy,” Stroud said. “It’s almost ten years ago. It’s wild. Just to see not only my growth, but his and our relationship grow, he’s somebody who I consider a great friend and somebody I know I can call. I’ve seen him grow as a coach and see him have his fingerprint in our system, finally, after a couple years he’s able to put some input into plays.

“I thought he’s done a great job of that. Coaching me on footwork, he’s a mechanical genius. He’s a guru when it comes to footwork and being centered in the ground, with your wrist, all that good stuff. I’m very grateful and happy to have him as a coach.”

When Stroud wasn’t a well-known quarterback initially at Elite 11, he wound up outperforming his friend, Carolina Panthers quarterback and top overall pick Bryce Young. That caught the eyes of recruiters, including Ohio State coach Ryan Day.

Johnson encouraged Stroud to believe in himself, and be confident in his skills.

“Jerrod’s one thing for me was like, ‘Be confident,’” Stroud said. “At that time, I wasn’t really the highest recruit. I wasn’t who I would become. Jerrod is someone I looked up to. When he was like, ‘Man, you need to be more confident,’ it changed my life.”

Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson’s jersey retired at Humble High School

Johnson played quarterback for six different NFL teams. He interviewed for the Texans’ offensive coordinator job before they hired Nick Caley as the replacement for former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Johnson has previously interviewed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots for offensive coordinator vacancies.

The Texans have seen Johnson continue to make advancements in his development as a coach.

“Jerrod has done a great job this year,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said previously. “I’ve definitely seen growth in him as a coach and how he’s done a better job of working with the quarterbacks. He’s given those guys a lot of pointers, a lot of tips, especially from him being a guy who played the position.

“He’s coached the position, helped a lot of young guys throughout his career. I’m very pleased with Jerrod and excited to see his growth as a coach over this past year. I think he’s doing a great job.”

Johnson emerged as a popular offensive coordinator candidate in the league before remaining with the Texans under an upgraded contract that included a higher salary two years ago.

“I aspire, absolutely,” Johnson said. “I think every coach aspires to get to that point. The cool thing is that you don’t go in there without winning. It’s a team game.

“I grew up playing, and I’m here to help the quarterbacks get better. If you do a good job, good things will happen. I pour into the players. I pour into the coaches, and that’s all that matters right now.”

Stroud became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game as a rookie, surpassing his childhood idol, Michael Vick. He began his career with an NFL record 191 passes without an interception, finished the season with 198 passes without an interception and finished with 4,108 yards in the regular season, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Stroud joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to lead the league in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio.

A former record-setting Texas A&M quarterback who also played for the Aggies basketball team, Johnson embraces this opportunity as the Humble High School graduate coaches for his hometown team.

“I see myself as a teacher,” Johnson said. “My biggest thing is I want to teach. Whatever I can do to teach and give them whatever they need, I try to be transparent and open and honest with them. I really want feedback from them. It’s a joy to coach them.

Johnson finished his college career with a school-record 8,011 passing yards and 8,888 yards of total offense and also played on the Aggies basketball team. A second-team All-Big 12 selection, Johnson was the program’s all-time leader in attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns before Kellen Mond broke those records.

Johnson is a former assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at St. Thomas High School in Houston.

He played in the East-West Shrine Bowl in 2011 and later coached at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

As the Texans’ quarterbacks coach, Johnson was tasked with a pivotal, plum assignment: developing and building the skills and knowledge of Stroud.

After playing for his late father, Larry Johnson, in high school, excelling for the Aggies, then playing in the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game and going undrafted, Johnson played quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Hartford Colonials, and Sacramento Mountain Lions.

His background in Humble is what built Johnson into a coach.

“It meant everything,” Johnson said. “My dad was a coach there, and a principal there. That’s our family roots. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the village of people who raised me in Humble, Texas. I’m forever indebted to Humble and I love my hometown and that’s the foundation of who I am as a person.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com