HOUSTON – The NFL changed its employment networking program this year to include more candidates.
That accelerator program included more on the cusp of becoming an NFL head coach and general manager.
The Texans will be represented at the NFL owners meetings Monday and Tuesday in Orlando, Fla. by offensive coordinator Nick Caley and assistant general managers James Liipfert and Chris Blanco.
Liipfert was a finalist for the Atlanta Falcons’ general manager position that went to Ian Cunningham.
The status of offensive coordinator Nick Caley going forward as the Texans’ play-caller wasn’t ever really in doubt.
Caley is back for his second season as the play-caller as the Texans seek to upgrade the offense and improve the efficiency of quarterback C.J. Stroud after a rocky playoffs.
“I would anticipate Nick being here next year,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said in January. “All of us are just trying to improve and do what we can to make the team and the organization better. I think Nick has grown a lot.
“It was his first opportunity as a play-caller. I’d say, offensively, probably the last two, three months of the year, played pretty good football and did a lot of good things. So, there was growth and improvement.”
The Texans went on a 10-game winning streak, including a wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, after a 3-5 start. The Texans finished 13th in scoring offense, 18th in total offense, 14th in passing offense and 22nd in rushing offense.
A year ago with former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who was replaced by Caley, they were 19th in scoring, 22nd in total offense, 21st in passing offense and 15th in rushing offense.
The Texans made strides overall with Caley in his first year calling plays with less predictability in the second half of the season.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who became the only passer in NFL history to have five fumbles and five interceptions during the same postseason, expressed support for Caley.
“Yeah, definitely. I love Cales,” Stroud said Monday. “I think there’s growth in our relationship, there’s growth in his ability to call plays, growth and DeMeco trusted him. Whatever our coaches decide, I love Cales and I’m rocking with him however long he’s going to be here.”
Liipfert is a highly regarded talented evaluator who’s a key figure in the Texans’ scouting department and instrumental in the selection of several top players throughout the roster.
Liipfert was previously the executive director of player personnel and the assistant director of personnel/director of college scouting before being promoted to assistant general manager last year along with Chris Blanco.
Liipfert worked for the New England Patriots for nine years, spending three years as a national scout before being hired as the Texans’ director of college scouting.
Initially hired by New England as a scouting assistant in 2009, Liipfert was an area scout for the Patriots for five years.
He was hired after finishing up a college football career at Georgia Tech, where he was a three-year letterman at linebacker and on special teams after walking on and earning a scholarship.
The Georgia native was an all-state selection in high school where he played fullback and linebacker. He was named Region Player of the Year.
“I have a lot of respect for James,” said Caserio, who worked with Liipfert in New England. “I’ve known him a long time. Probably known him as long as anybody in this building. Hired him as a scouting assistant. Finished his career at Georgia Tech. He hadn’t been involved in scouting, probably didn’t have much of an NFL career ahead of him. He knew that.
“He wanted to get involved in football, so I hired him as a scouting assistant and he’s grown, done a great job. Great person, great family. Works really hard. I rely on him for a lot. He’s earned his opportunity, so credit to him. Whatever the Falcons decide to do, but hopefully he’s here helping the Texans. He’s fortunate to have the opportunity and I’m sure he’ll do a good job with it. Happy for James and see how it goes.”
Blanco was previously the assistant director of player personnel for the Texans before being promoted. He was previously the Minnesota Vikings’ director of pro personnel and assistant director of college scouting.
He began his time with the Texans as a pro scout. He was a starting cornerback at Darmouth and earned a law degree from Iowa where he worked as a recruiting assistant for the football team.
The Texans’ personnel department, led by general manager Nick Caserio, includes college scouting director Mozique McCurtis, director of pro personnel D.J. Debick and director of college scouting operations Tom Hayden, senior personnel executive/assistant director of pro scouting Steve Cargile and national scouts Bailee Brown and Bradley Mathews.
Texans co-director of college scouting John Ritcher has been hired by the New York Giants as their director of college scouting, per a league source.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com