The New England Patriots have filed tampering charges against the Houston Texans for their attempted hire of Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio for their vacant general manager position, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Schefter states that the NFL is now expected to begin gathering information to open a case against the Texans.

Houston fired general manager Brian Gaine last week, one day after New England's Super Bowl ring ceremony at Robert Kraft's house. Texans executive vice president of team development Jack Easterby, the Pats' former team chaplain, attended the party, as did Caserio.

The Texans have requested permission to interview Caserio, but it has not been granted to date.

Houston's firing of Gaine came as a surprise, especially given the timing, but it was reportedly due to his souring relationship with head coach Bill O'Brien.

The NFL's tampering policy states that “any interference by a member club with the employer-employee relationship of another club or any attempt by a club to impermissibly induce a person to seek employment with that club or with the NFL” is impermissible.

Article Continues Below
More Houston Texans News
Mystery player in the middle, CJ Stroud and Nico Collins around him, Texans logo in the background
1 Houston Texans rookie who stood out most in 2025 minicampEnzo Flojo ·
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) rolls out to throw against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of a 2025 AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Texans’ C.J. Stroud gets ‘no concerns’ take from new OCZachary Weinberger ·
Houston Texans former defensive end J.J. Watt in attendance as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Tennessee Titans.
NFL legend JJ Watt throws down epic dunk during Pat McAfee visitJosh Davis ·
image thumbnail
Texans’ riskiest move in 2025 NFL offseasonDouglas Fritz ·
Iowa State wideout and Houston Texans 2025 NFL Draft pick Jayden Higgins (WO18) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
NFL rumors: Texans, Browns the reason 2025 NFL Draft second-round picks aren’t signingTim Crean ·
Nick Chubb in the middle, Bears, Texans, Steelers logos in the background, Cloudy skies in the background
Ranking best Nick Chubb fits late in 2025 NFL free agencyEnzo Flojo ·

Obviously, if the Texans are, in fact, hit with tampering violations, there would be a rather serious price to pay.

Houston won 11 games and captured the AFC South division title this past season, but ultimately fell to the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

The Texans have not made it past the Divisional Round of the postseason since becoming an NFL franchise back in 2002.

Meanwhile, the Patriots are coming off of their sixth Super Bowl championship.