HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 13: Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley walks by means of the hallway at NRG Stadium after chatting with the media at a information convention introducing the brand new assistant coach on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle by way of Getty Photographs)
Anybody who watched the 2025 Houston Texans offense is aware of then-rookie offensive coordinator Nick Caley was driving the wrestle bus into the bar ditch early and infrequently. Whereas bumping alongside the runway is an expectation of a primary time coordinator, Caley’s press conferences didn’t do a lot to endear him to a fanbase that wanted reassuring. As a substitute of proudly owning the training curve, Caley’s responses typically appear as if he bristled on the very notion that something might or was his fault.
However, he has to personal the “worst red zone offense in football” label his system earned the 2025 Texans.
Fortunately, this low season has introduced the crew plenty of enhancements throughout the board, together with the offense. Participant upgrades and high quality additions. A brand new QB coach. Improved focus and dedication from quarterback C.J. Stroud and a extra growth-minded Caley.
NEW: I chatted with #Texans OC Nick Caley not too long ago about why he felt the offense began sluggish in 2025, and why he believes issues are on the up in 2026 ⬇️ https://t.co/YA8AYD9xyg by way of @houstonchron
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) June 25, 2026
Jonathan Alexander sat with Caley for a high quality, in-depth interview not too long ago. You’ll be able to, and will, learn his full piece on the Houston Chronicle website.
Among the finest takeaways, from my POV at the least:
On final season:
[Caley] admits that maybe he was a bit too formidable coming in as a first-time play-caller, realizing the personnel on the roster didn’t match what he was initially attempting to do.
#Texans 4 of 5 in crimson zone as we speak. Worst crimson zone offense coming into as we speak, 4 touchdowns as we speak with Davis Mills beneath middle
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 9, 2025
On general offensive adjustments for 2026, together with including nice tight finish depth and bringing in RB1 David Montgomery:
“You can get bigger on the edges,” Caley stated. “You’ll be able to deploy various kinds of blocking schemes with totally different surfaces that you simply’re attacking. Tight ends are an extension of the offensive line.
“We can get sturdy, we can control the edges, that always is going to help.”
Caley went on to debate his relationship and look at of latest QB coach Jerry Schuplinski, who has mentored Caley since their days with the New England Patriots.
“He’s extremely thorough,” Caley stated of Schuplinski. “He’s an exceptional instructor. He has the flexibility to take issues that may be advanced at occasions and break them down into quite simple components.
“He pours everything he’s got into our staff and the quarterbacks, and he’s got a high level of intelligence, a high capacity, very little ego and an extremely strong work ethic.”
After which there’s Stroud:
“There was a lot of progress that C.J. and the offense made last year,” Caley stated. “We continued to get higher from the beginning of the season to the tip of the common season and simply continued to make progress from week to week. So we’re going to proceed to construct on that. It’s a brand new 12 months. C.J. has executed a fantastic job out right here. Appears good. Locked in.
Take a while to learn the total article, as all the time Alexander did a radical job and unearthed some nice insights.
Right here’s to hoping the rumors of Nick Caley’s progress are extra than simply phrases.
