Coaching Knowledge Shared by Houston Texans

In the competitive landscape of the NFL, where success often hinges on strategic innovation and player development, the Houston Texans have distinguished themselves by prioritizing the sharing of coaching knowledge. This commitment goes beyond internal team dynamics, extending to collaborations with other franchises, youth football programs, and even international leagues, reflecting a belief that collective growth in coaching elevates the sport as a whole. The Texans’ coaching staff, led by individuals with diverse backgrounds and decades of combined experience, has established structured systems to pass down expertise—from game-planning strategies to player mentorship techniques—ensuring that valuable insights are not hoarded but circulated. Coaching Knowledge Shared by Houston Texans is not just a practice but a core value, one that has strengthened the team’s on-field performance while also contributing to the broader football community. Whether through formal workshops, informal film sessions, or partnerships with local organizations, the Texans have become a model for how NFL teams can use their coaching expertise to make a lasting impact, both within their locker room and beyond.

Coaching Knowledge Shared by Houston Texans begins with the team’s internal mentorship program, designed to nurture young coaches and ensure a consistent transfer of expertise across all levels of the organization. At the heart of this program is the “Coach Shadow Initiative,” which pairs rookie assistant coaches with veteran staff members for a full season. For example, in the 2023 season, first-year defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson was paired with defensive coordinator Matt Burke, a 15-year NFL coaching veteran. Robertson attended all of Burke’s meetings, participated in game-planning sessions, and even led small group drills under Burke’s supervision, gaining hands-on experience in translating defensive schemes into on-field execution. This one-on-one mentorship is complemented by weekly “Knowledge Share” meetings, where coaches from every position group—offense, defense, and special teams—gather to present insights from recent games. A defensive line coach might share tips on countering zone-blocking schemes, while a wide receivers coach could walk through new route combinations that proved effective against press coverage. These meetings break down silos between position groups, fostering a collaborative environment where coaches learn from one another’s specialties. The result is a more versatile coaching staff, where even seasoned professionals pick up new techniques, and young coaches rapidly develop the skills needed to lead. This internal sharing has directly benefited the Texans’ players, who receive more cohesive and informed guidance, leading to better on-field performance and faster adaptation to new strategies.

Beyond their internal program, Coaching Knowledge Shared by Houston Texans is evident in the team’s partnerships with local youth and high school football programs, aimed at developing the next generation of coaches and players. Each off-season, the Texans host a “Coaching Clinic” at their NRG Stadium facilities, open to high school and youth football coaches from across the Houston area. The clinic features sessions led by the Texans’ full coaching staff, covering topics ranging from basic fundamentals like proper tackling technique to advanced concepts such as game-time decision-making for head coaches. In 2024, over 200 local coaches attended the clinic, where head coach DeMeco Ryans led a session on building a team culture, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik demonstrated how to design plays that leverage a team’s unique strengths. The Texans also provide follow-up resources, including video playbooks and drill guides, to help coaches implement what they’ve learned throughout the season. Additionally, the team’s coaches regularly visit local high schools to observe practices and offer personalized feedback. For instance, special teams coordinator Frank Ross spent a day at Houston’s Lamar High School last year, working with the team’s kickers and punters on improving their form and discussing how to handle high-pressure situations like game-winning field goal attempts. These efforts not only improve the quality of local football but also strengthen the Texans’ connection to the Houston community, positioning the team as a leader in fostering football excellence at all levels.

A key aspect of Coaching Knowledge Shared by Houston Texans is the team’s collaboration with other NFL franchises, promoting a culture of mutual growth rather than isolation. The Texans have established a “Coaching Exchange Program” with select teams, where assistant coaches spend a week observing each other’s practices and participating in strategy meetings. In 2023, the Houston Texans partnered with the Kansas City Chiefs, sending their running backs coach to Kansas City to study the Chiefs’ dynamic rushing attack, while a Chiefs’ defensive line coach visited Houston to learn about the Texans’ innovative pass-rushing schemes. This exchange led to tangible results: the Texans adopted a new zone-blocking technique from the Chiefs, which helped their running backs increase their yards per carry by 0.8 the following season, while the Chiefs integrated a Texans-developed stunting strategy that improved their sack total by 12. The Texans also share knowledge through league-wide initiatives, such as presenting at the annual NFL Coaches Symposium. In 2024, defensive coordinator Matt Burke delivered a keynote on “Adapting Defenses to Modern Spread Offenses,” sharing data and film clips from the Texans’ successful efforts to slow down high-scoring teams like the Buffalo Bills. This willingness to share proprietary strategies reflects the Texans’ long-term vision—they understand that elevating the overall quality of coaching across the NFL creates a more competitive and exciting league, which ultimately benefits all teams, including their own.

Coaching Knowledge Shared by Houston Texans also extends to the international football community, as the team works to grow the sport globally by sharing NFL-level coaching expertise. In partnership with the NFL’s International Series, the Texans have sent coaches to lead clinics in countries like Mexico, Germany, and the United Kingdom, where football is rapidly gaining popularity. In 2023, offensive line coach Chris Strausser traveled to Mexico City to work with coaches from the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA), Mexico’s top professional football league. Strausser led sessions on pass protection fundamentals and offensive line communication, using film from Texans games to illustrate key concepts. The Houston Texans also hosted a group of 10 international coaches at their training camp in 2024, giving them unprecedented access to NFL practice routines, player development sessions, and game-planning meetings. One coach from Germany’s Football League Europe noted, “Seeing how the Texans break down opponents’ film and tailor their strategies to individual players has completely changed how I approach coaching back home.” The Texans’ international efforts also include supporting youth football programs abroad, such as donating coaching materials and sponsoring youth clinics. For example, the team provided a comprehensive youth playbook translated into Spanish to leagues in Argentina and Colombia, helping young players learn the sport’s fundamentals from a structured, NFL-informed perspective. By sharing their coaching knowledge globally, the Texans are not only growing the sport but also building a global fan base that feels connected to the team.

Looking to the future, Coaching Knowledge Shared by Houston Texans will remain a cornerstone of the team’s identity, with plans to expand existing programs and launch new initiatives to reach even more coaches and players. The Texans are developing a digital platform called “Texans Coaching Hub,” which will offer free online courses, webinars, and downloadable resources for coaches at all levels—from youth leagues to college football. The platform will feature content from the Texans’ coaching staff, including step-by-step drill tutorials, strategy breakdowns, and interviews with players about what they value most in a coach. Additionally, the team plans to establish a “Coach-in-Residence” program, inviting promising young coaches from around the country to spend a full season with the Texans, immersing themselves in every aspect of the team’s coaching operations. For the Houston Texans, sharing coaching knowledge is not just a way to give back—it’s an investment in the future of football. By empowering coaches with the tools and expertise they need to succeed, the Texans are helping to develop better players, more competitive teams, and a stronger football community, both locally and globally. As head coach DeMeco Ryans often says, “Great coaching isn’t just about winning games—it’s about leaving the sport better than you found it.” Through their ongoing commitment to sharing knowledge, the Texans are living up to that vision, solidifying their reputation as a franchise that cares about the growth of football as much as their own success.