We have had the axed dropped on our first coach this season. A lot were thinking Adam Gase, Matt Patricia, and Dan Quinn were the guys at risk of being fired first. Yet, it was Bill O’Brien. I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say I am both surprised and not surprised at the same time by this decision. His team is 0-4, he has made some incredibly short-sighted trades, and has made the cap situation very tight for the next few years. So, was the timing of this particular firing justified?
Was The Timing Bad?
If you’re Bill Barnwell, a staff writer for ESPN, then the answer is yes. Albeit he doesn’t agree with any decision ever, but I will present my rebuttal for his reasoning on why the timing of the firing doesn’t make sense. In addition, present some more reasons why the timing doesn’t matter.
A major point he made is when firing O’Brien after all the damage is done in regards to their draft capital and cap room will damage the allure of the open positions at head coach and general manger. That they should keep O’Brien until end of the 2020-2021 season for him to see out his mistakes–even though his mistakes go out to then of the 2022 season due to large amounts of cash he handed out in the form of extensions. In this scenario, to prevent any more damage being done by O’Brien, ownership will oversee any decisions he’s about to make and could veto those moves.
Why That Doesn’t Make Sense
In a perfect world this makes. However, the reality of how business works, this is far from practical and definitely wouldn’t worked if you tried it. First, when anyone with hiring/firing abilities has a realization that they no longer think someone is qualified to do a certain job they don’t wait two years to fire them to see out their mistakes. They fire them relatively soon to when they have this epiphany. Texans ownership might have given O’Brien a chance to show there is a method to his madness, but when the team lost Sunday to the 0-3 Vikings, they realized that the events that led up to this loss were just one mistake on top of another.
In reference to ownership potentially vetoing any more moves that could potentially worsen this teams assets, it is very, very unlikely that they do this. There is a reason why owners in sports hire general managers. It is because they trust their judgement with decision making with how the roster should be constructed. Owners don’t know more than the general managers in regards to how to build a team. They certainly give their input. However, ultimately it’s not their decision, nor should it be, and hardly ever do they interfere. So, to suggest that Texans ownership try this strategy will only deteriorate their relationship with O’Brien. To where he might just end up quitting. Then you’re in the same situation of no head coach or general manager.
Why The Timing Doesn’t Matter
As mentioned, when you have a feeling that something isn’t working out, you don’t just sit and hope it gets better. Or if you don’t think it’s going to get better to keep the person around to “see out their mistakes”. You make a change. The first step is over. Now they have most of the season to evaluate potential replacements.
Did the damage Bill O’Brien do in regards to draft capital and the cap hurt the allure for potential general managers and head coaches? Sure. However, I am sure whoever is hired for those positions will have some time try to undo some of these mistakes and get this team back on the right path.
Despite all these disadvantages, one selling point the Texans still have is that they have their franchise QB and he is under contract til the end of he 2025 season. That might not be enough for a successful and experienced head coach. But maybe for someone who is seen as an up-and-comer.
Conclusion
Never wait to make the right decision.
With that being said, I think there should be a lesson learned from this. There is a reason why the position of head coach and the position of general manager are operated by two different people. The job of the general manager is to try to win now, but also keep their options open for the future. That way if change is necessary they have the ability to make those changes.
When your general manager is also your head coach, the only thing that matters is winning this year and doing whatever it takes to win this year. It also shows that the skills needed for those positions are also completely different. Bill O’Brien has zero clue on how to value players. Whether that’s through trades, free agency, or extending players. He got zero first round picks for DeAndre Hopkins and Jadeveon Clowney, but gave up two firsts for Larmey Tunsil. Teams played O’Brien like a fiddle. Players he signed or extended played him like a fiddle.
It will be an uphill battle for whoever takes over in Houston. Just like most other teams who fire their head coach and general manager.