Texans reportedly working toward keeping Bill O’Brien

The Houston Texans may have to make some major changes to their organizational structure this offseason, and they are reportedly exploring ways of doing that without needing a new head coach.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that Bill O’Brien is likely to return as the Texans head coach in 2018. There are still some issues with O’Brien’s contract that need to be sorted out, as he has just one season remaining on the five-year deal he signed with Houston back in 2014. However, Schefter’s sources expect that situation to be addressed.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media had a similar report about the O’Brien situation on Sunday, noting that one possibility for the Texans could be elevating general manager Rick Smith out of his position with the football operations department and giving O’Brien more control over personnel decisions. One report earlier in the week stated that O’Brien’s relationship with Smith is in a very bad place.

Despite rumblings that he would be a hot coaching candidate if he became a free agent, O’Brien has said he has no plans to give up on the Texans. The players, most notably rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, have said they want the coach back. A divorce would leave a lot of people unhappy.