The Houston Texans organization continues to make confounding decisions.
On Wednesday, Houston fired VP of Communications Amy Palcic, who was the first woman to run PR for an NFL team. As ESPN's Adam Schefter notes, she was highly recognized around the league and considered one of the best in the business:
Texans fired VP of Communications Amy Palcic, telling her she no longer was "a cultural fit", per sources. Palcic was the first and only woman to have full PR responsibilities for an NFL team. She was the winner of the 2017 Rozelle Award for best PR staff. She is widely respected
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 11, 2020
After news of her dismissal broke, a slew of NFL media members praised Palcic and questioned the motives of Houston's leadership, comprised of vice president of football operations and interim GM Jack Easterby and owner Cal McNair:
This is a stunning move.
Stunning.@amypalcic is one of the best media-relations people I’ve met in my 36 years covering the NFL. Top 5. https://t.co/x6U3nA5nn5— Peter King (@peter_king) November 11, 2020
No!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/G2zN2KJWLb
— Erin Andrews (@ErinAndrews) November 11, 2020
The Texans have turned into one of the worst organizations in football since Bob McNair died. @amypalcic was the best. She certainly was too good for what the Texans deserve. https://t.co/WHByVtvl9j
— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) November 11, 2020
Time for this team to reevaluate the meaning of “cultural fit.” @amypalcic is incredible. https://t.co/ijFhgQ3HNV
— Pam Chvotkin, Storyteller (@reddusfoximus) November 11, 2020
This is crap. @amypalcic deserved better. Between Palcic and her predecessor @kevincooper44, #Texans don’t seem to understand what a good head of PR is. She was absolutely aces throughout Hurricane Harvey, too – when the org really needed it. https://t.co/ojzIqtt8fG
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) November 11, 2020
What? Can’t understand this. Onward and upward, @amypalcic. You and your PR staff are renowned for going above and beyond — always professional, efficient, helpful, prompt, friendly. Am looking forward to working with you again, which surely will be soon.
— John Kryk (@JohnKryk) November 11, 2020
Houston fired head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien earlier in the season — though that was far more defensible after O'Brien traded away numerous first-round picks and star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The Texans now have openings at head coach (Romeo Crennel is currently serving on an interim basis), GM, and VP of Communications:
The #Texans PR staff won the 2017 Rozelle Award. That’s as good as it gets. Houston now has openings at key spots: Coach, GM, VP of Communications. Jack Easterby gets to remake the most high-profile spots in the organization. https://t.co/1RyY1axr7W
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2020
For what it's worth, The Athletic's Ben Baldwin further pointed out that Palcic — who supports the Democratic Party — lampooned the Trump campaign's press conference on Saturday, which was mistakenly held at Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia rather than at the luxury hotel chain. The McNairs have been one of the most generous donors to the Trump campaign among NFL ownership groups dating back to 2016.
This would certainly be a a bad reason to fire a well-respected member of the organization:
Who knows if this was the actual reason, but maybe the team with MAGA ownership didn't appreciate her making fun of the "Four Seasons Total Landscaping" debacle? idk
(that would be a terrible reason to fire someone) https://t.co/NozZcY2sss
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) November 11, 2020
Whatever the reason, it sure seems like the Texans just let one of the NFL's most respected people go. Their loss.
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