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The Houston Texans have hired Baltimore Ravens assistant David Culley to be their next head coach, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by the Houston Chronicle.
Culley is stepping into a challenging situation. Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson is at odds with management over its indifference toward his suggestions while looking for a GM and coach.
Culley, 65, who has spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, just completed his 27th season as an NFL coach. Along with serving as the team’s assistant head coach, Culley was Baltimore’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. The Ravens finished the 2020 season ranked last in the NFL in passing.
“David is just a genuine guy,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a text to ESPN’s Ed Werder. “He will be who he is everyday. Has been that guy every day of his career. I’m thrilled for him. Great person. Genuine. Full of energy.”
Harbaugh had previously called the Texans’ opening a “great opportunity” and said he believed Culley “would be a tremendous hire for any team, maybe, especially, the Texans with Deshaun Watson.”
The Ravens will receive two third-round compensatory picks (one in 2021 and another in 2022) for Culley getting hired from their staff. This comes from a resolution adopted in November that is meant to incentivize NFL teams to develop and hire minority candidates for head-coaching and general manager positions.
Culley will join Robert Saleh of the New York Jets, Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins, Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team as active minority head coaches in the league.
Culley has never been an offensive coordinator at the NFL level. He was also an assistant head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013 to ’16, and spent the 2017 and ’18 seasons as the Buffalo Bills‘ quarterbacks coach. When the Ravens hired Culley in 2019, Harbaugh said the coach was highly respected “as a teacher, game-planner and motivator.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid told Werder that Culley is a “great person” and “very loyal.” He added that Culley “will bring positive energy to the building.”
When the Texans fired head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien in October, Houston became the first team with an opening for either position. The Texans hired Nick Caserio as their new general manager earlier this month and gave him the reins to their head-coaching search.
Gary Kubiak describes David Culley as ‘energy in the building’
Gary Kubiak gained a friend along with a wealth of knowledge while working with David Culley on the Texas A&M coaching staff.
Previously the Baltimore Ravens’ assistant head coach/receivers coach/passing game coordinator, Culley, 65, is on the verge of being named the fourth coach in Texans history after an extremely impressive day-long interview in Houston on Wednesday that culminated with the franchise choosing him over Buffalo Bills assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
When Kubiak retired as an NFL player, he became the Aggies’ running backs coach. It was in College Station where he connected with Culley as Kubiak launched a coaching career that earned him four Super Bowl rings.
“David kind of took me under his wing and taught me a lot about coaching and dealing with players and how to recruit a little bit, which I didn’t know much about at first,” said Kubiak, the former Texans head coach who retired last week from his job as the Minnesota Vikings’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. “I leaned on David as a friend and a confidant when I got started. We got really close. David and I became good friends, and he’s a wonderful human being, a class act. He’s been doing it a long time at a high level.”
Culley interviewed for the second time Wednesday with Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio, giving a thorough, detailed presentation that convinced them he should be the next head coach despite his never having been an offensive coordinator. Culley’s path is similar to other first-time head coaches who were previously position coaches, including Ravens Super Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh.
During the interview process, Culley broached the topic of not having previous coordinator experience like most head coaches and asked Caserio if that was a problem. Caserio told Culley he had no issues with that and was instead focused on his coaching skills and character, according to league sources.
“Energetic guy that has paid his dues,” an NFL source said. “Fits the culture the Texans and Cal want. This league erroneously thinks to be a head coach, one has to be a great coordinator first. It’s a dumb thought.”
During the interview process, Culley made a strong impression with his people skills, knowledge of the game and ability to connect with players. NFL colleagues have called Culley “rare” in his ability to gain a buy-in with players.
“This is great. I’m so excited for him. This is awesome,” former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. “He’ll do a great job. He is the kind of guy in the clubhouse that players want to play for. He’ll rally the guys around him.”
Culley, Frazier and former Lions and Colts coach Jim Caldwell, who also impressed the Texans throughout the process, were the only candidates to interview twice for the job, which has been open since the Texans fired Bill O’Brien following an 0-4 start. The Texans also interviewed Kansas Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, former Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady and new Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley.
A former Texas A&M receivers coach, Culley connected with Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s in a dispute with the team over a lack of input into the hiring process, while coaching him at the Pro Bowl last year with Baltimore’s coaching staff.
The Texans are working to repair their relationship with Watson.
The qualities that Harbaugh and others have recognized in Culley, a former Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach, include his ability to build strong relationships with players, coach them hard and get them to understand his philosophy and strategies, along with his enthusiasm and positivity.
“David is the energy in the building,” Kubiak said. “In coaching, we have all kind of personalities. There are guys running around like their hair is on fire, and some are more teachers and calm. David is a very energetic football coach. He relates to players extremely well. He has his way of bonding with them while also being very demanding of them
Culley was the Bills quarterback coach for Josh Allen’s rookie season and previously coached wide receivers for Andy Reid in Kansas City and Philadelphia. Culley is well-versed in several offensive systems, including Reid’s West Coast offense.
Culley is a part of the Ravens’ multidimensional offense headlined by star quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens led the NFL in scoring in 2019 (33.2 points per game) and ranked seventh this season (29.3). Culley coached wide receivers Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin, Devin Duvernay and James Proche.
“When you look at David, he’s been through several systems and is so knowledgeable,” Kubiak said. “In Baltimore, with a young man with Lamar’s talents, and he’s so tremendous … when you look at the way the Ravens have chosen to move the ball, adjusting with your players — the most important thing as a coach (is) relating to your players and adjusting to what your strengths are.”
As much as his coaching acumen, Culley gets high marks for his people skills. Slocum recounted the impact Culley had on the entire program in College Station.
“David brings so much to the table,” Slocum said. “What happens in coaching, you get different personalities and different egos. Some guys are knowledgeable coaches, but they’re hard to deal with and bring out the worst in people. Other guys like David are like vitamins. They make your whole organization healthier and more positive.”
Several NFL colleagues who have worked with Culley emphasized that he has the swagger and genuine nature to relate to players decades younger than him.
“You’ve got to have relationships with these guys,” Kubiak said. “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. You have to maintain that respect factor, because you’re their coach. You have to get them ready, and you have to make hard decisions. They have to respect you as you do it.”
WHO IS DAVID CULLEY:
David Culley
Assistant Head Coach / Pass Coordinator / Wide Receivers
College: Vanderbilt
Hometown: Sparta, TN
Experience: 27 years
Biography
DAVID CULLEY joined the Ravens in 2019 as the team’s assistant head coach / pass coordinator / wide receivers coach. Entering his 27th NFL coaching season overall, Culley assists the Ravens’ offense (which ranked No. 1 in scoring – 33.2 ppg – in 2019) in creating a passing scheme that complements the team’s rushing attack. Culley also guides the Ravens’ wide receivers, including ’19 first-rounder Marquise Brown, whose 7 receiving TDs tied (Marlon Brown and Torrey Smith) a rookie franchise season high. In Culley’s first season in Baltimore (2019), the WRs also were key blockers for the team’s No. 1-ranked rushing unit (206.0 ypg). The Ravens also ranked No. 2 in total yards (407.6) per game and set team records for touchdowns (64), points (531), net yards (6,521), rushing yards (3,296), first downs (386) and fewest turnovers (15). Prior to joining the Ravens, Culley spent two years (2017-18) as the Bills’ QBs coach. Prior to his time in Buffalo, Culley served as assistant head coach/wide receivers coach with Kansas City (2013-16), where he helped guide the Chiefs to three playoff appearances during his four seasons. The veteran coach also worked alongside John Harbaugh for nine seasons (1999-2007) in Philadelphia. During his tenure with the Eagles (1999-2012), Culley spent time as wide receivers coach (1999-2010) and as a senior offensive assistant/WRs (2011-12). Culley’s NFL coaching career has also included stops as wide receivers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1996-98) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1994-95). Before entering the NFL, he spent 16 years coaching in the collegiate ranks.
ADDITIONAL COACHING HIGHLIGHTS: In 2018, Culley helped guide Buffalo QB Josh Allen, who in 11 starts established franchise records for most total TDs produced by a Bills rookie quarterback (18), most single-game rushing yards by a quarterback (135), most single-season rushing TDs by a quarterback (8) and most single-season rushing yards by a quarterback (631)…Allen also became the only player in NFL history to throw for over 200 yards and rush for over 100 yards in consecutive games…Culley also helped tutor former Ravens WR Jeremy Maclin in both Philadelphia and Kansas City, where in 2015, Maclin set a then-Chiefs single-season record for receptions (87) by a wide receiver…In Maclin’s first three seasons with the Eagles (2009-11), he caught more passes (189) than any other WR in franchise history…Under Culley’s direction, Eagles WR DeSean Jackson became the first player in NFL history to earn a Pro Bowl berth as both a WR and a return man (2009).
2019: (with Baltimore) Guided the Ravens’ passing game and wide receivers group, helping the scoring attack to a No. 1 ranking (33.2 ppg) and offense to a No. 2 ranking (407.6 ypg)…First-round pick WR Marquise Brown tied a rookie franchise record with 7 receiving TDs…Ravens set team records for TDs (64), points (531), net yards (6,521), rushing yards (3,296), first downs (386) and fewest turnovers (15).
2017-18: (with Buffalo) 2018: Helped lead rookie QB Josh Allen, who posted franchise records for most total TDs produced by a Bills’ rookie quarterback (18), most single-game rushing yards by a quarterback (135), most single-season rushing TDs by a QB (8) and most single-season rushing yards by a QB (631)…Allen also became the only player in NFL history to throw for over 200 yards and rush for over 100 yards in consecutive games. 2017: QB Tyrod Taylor completed 62.6% of his passes for 2,799 yards, 14 TDs and just 4 INTs…Taylor also rushed for 427 yards and 4 scores, helping Buffalo’s ground attack rank No. 1 in the NFL (164.4 ypg)…Bills also posted a league-best 29 rushing TDs and were the only team to average more than 5.0 yards per carry (5.35).
2013-16: (with Kansas City) 2016: Standout rookie WR Tyreek Hill notched 61 catches for 593 yards and a team-high 6 TDs, en route to KC’s 12-4 record and AFC West title. 2015: Chiefs went 11-5, closing out the year with 10-consecutive victories…WR Jeremy Maclin recorded 1,088 yards in his initial season with KC, marking the first 1,000-yard receiving season by a Chiefs’ wideout since Dwayne Bowe’s 1,159 yards in 2011…Maclin’s 87 catches marked a Chiefs’ single-season record by a WR. 2014: WR Dwayne Bowe (60 for 754) tallied his seventh season with 50-or-more receptions, making him the second player in franchise history to accomplish the feat. 2013: Three different WRs posted at least 500 receiving yards: Dwayne Bowe (57 for 673), Donnie Avery (40 for 596) and Dexter McCluster (53 for 511).
1999-2012: (with Philadelphia) Spent 14 seasons with the Eagles, coaching the WRs each year and serving as the senior offensive assistant from 2011-12…Philly made nine playoff appearances during Culley’s 14 seasons, advancing to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl (2004). 2012: WR Jeremy Maclin tallied team highs in catches (69), receiving yards (857) and receiving TDs. 2011: In Maclin’s first three seasons with the Eagles (2009-11), he caught more passes (189) than any other WR in franchise history. 2010: WR DeSean Jackson totaled 1,056 receiving yards and 6 TDs on 47 catches, earning Pro Bowl honors and helping Philly to an NFC East Division title. 2009: Jackson (1,156 yards and 9 TDs on 62 receptions) earned Pro Bowl accolades, as the Eagles posted the NFL’s fifth-best scoring offense (26.8 ppg). 2007: WR Kevin Curtis registered 1,110 receiving yards and 6 TDs on 77 catches. 2004: WR Terrell Owens earned first-team All-Pro honors after posting 77 catches for 1,200 yards and a franchise-record 14 TDs…Eagles advanced to Super Bowl XXXIX vs. New England. 2002: Philly’s offense ranked fourth in the NFL in points per game (25.9)…WR Todd Pinkston tallied a team-best 7 TD catches. 1999: Hired by Andy Reid as the Eagles’ WRs coach.
1996-98: (with Pittsburgh) 1998: WR Charles Johnson led the team with 815 receiving yards and 7 TDs on 65 catches. 1997: WR Yancey Thigpen tallied a career-high 1,398 receiving yards (third most in the NFL) and 7 TDs on 79 receptions…Steelers went 11-5 and advanced to a Divisional Playoff vs. Denver. 1996: Hired as Pittsburgh’s WRs coach and helped WR Charles Johnson post 60 catches for a team-high 1,008 yards and 3 TDs.
1994-95: (with Tampa Bay) 1995: Three Bucs’ wideouts posted at least 600 receiving yards: Jackie Harris (62-751), Alvin Harper (64-633) and Horace Copeland (35 for 605). 1994: Hired as WRs coach.
1991-93: (with Texas A&M) 1993: WR Tony Harrison recorded a team-high 481 receiving yards and 4 TDs on 35 catches, helping A&M average 35.4 points per game (ninth in the country)…Aggies were 10-2, finishing with a No. 9 poll ranking. 1992: Aggies were 12-1, earning a final No. 7 ranking. 1991: Hired as WRs coach and helped the Aggies post a 10-2 record, finishing No. 12 in the country…Offense averaged 33.7 points per game (12th in the nation).
1978-90: (with multiple colleges) Spent time guiding several offensive positions at a number of schools, including Texas-El Paso, where he was the offensive coordinator/RBs/WRs coach from 1989-90…Also coached for his alma mater, Vanderbilt, serving as the WRs coach from 1979-81 after receiving his first coaching experience at Austin Peay while tutoring the running backs in 1978.
College: Culley was recruited by Bill Parcells as a quarterback at Vanderbilt…Graduated with degree in health and physical education.
Personal: David and his wife, Carolyn, raised two children: Monty and Jessie…Prepped at White County (Sparta, TN) HS, where he played basketball (point guard), baseball (pitcher) and football (quarterback).
