Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien knows that things need to change, which is why he is proud of the protests going on around the nation and world. Since George Floyd was killed while in police custody on Memorial Day, there have been nightly protests in the country. At first they started in Minneapolis at the site of Floyd's death but quickly spread across the nation.

Via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle:

“What is great about our country right now is to me the protests, the peaceful protests. The peaceful protests that we see on TV every night has just been an amazing example of what our country is all about.”

O'Brien said that he has spent a lot of this week reading what others have read to try and learn about ways he can do more. The Texans coach also feels like now is the time where people like Michael Thomas can have an even bigger impact.

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Ben Strauss ·

Houston Texans running back Dare Ogumbowale standing next to the goal posts with a speech bubble “I can do it all!” with a logo for the Houston Texans.

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GM Nick Caserio in the middle, Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard, Michael Hall Jr around him, and Houston Texans wallpaper in the background

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“I’ve read a lot this week. I’ve read what many people have said and I don’t want to weigh too much into the political realm, but I will a little bit, to be honest with you. I’ve read, like I’ve said, I’ve read Brian Flores’s statement probably 50 times. I’ve read coach [Gregg] Popovich’s comments several times. I’ve read the comments of Presidents Obama and Bush, true leaders. Leaders who have empathy. Leaders that have an understanding of what leadership is all about. Their statements have resonated the most with me. [Brian Flores] spoke about how honesty, transparency and empathy go a long way and we coach a great group of young man who can have an impact, they can. Men like Michael Thomas, who have already been doing great things in this league, can have a huge impact moving forward and we need to stand by them and help them.

O'Brien went on to say that he thinks he has done a decent job leading up to this point with these topics, but the seven-year Texans coach knows going forward he can do better. Even for the best activists, this last week has taught everything a thing or two that they can apply to their life going forward.