With the 2019 season fast approaching, the Houston Texans still find themselves without a general manager. On Wednesday, owner Bob McNair rectified that all-encompassing issue in a manner that seems simplest at the moment but could spark additional complications in the future.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Texans have made the decision to not hire a new general manager for the upcoming season, instead splitting responsibilities among incumbent executives Matt Bazirgan, James Liipfert, Chris Olsen, and Jack Easterby.
The Houston Texans are not hiring a general manager for the 2019 season and instead will divvy up those responsibilities amongst existing front-office members such as Matt Bazirgan, James Liipfert, Chris Olsen and Jack Easterby, per league sources. But no GM in 2019 for Houston.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 10, 2019
Houston abruptly dismissed general manager Brian Gaine on June 7, who signed a five-year contract with Houston to succeed Rick Smith in January 2018. During his lone season as the Texans’ prime decision-maker, they went 11-5 and won the AFC South before losing to the Indianapolis Colts at home in the first round of the playoffs.
Houston has been scouring the NFL for potential replacements ever since parting ways with Gaine. Early reports suggested New England Patriots executive Nick Caserio was a favorite for the job, but the Texans ended their pursuit of him shortly after the Patriots filed tampering charges with the league office. Former Cleveland Browns manager Ray Farmer was interviewed, too.
Olsen, previously senior vice president of football administration, has been the Texans' interim general manager over the past several weeks. Bazirgan's background with Houston is in the scouting department, with an emphasis on the NFL, while Liipfert spent his debut campaign with the team last season as director of college scouting. Easterby joined the Texans last month after serving as the Patriots' character coach for the previous six years.
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