Texans interview Joe Lombardi and Hines Ward for coaching vacancy

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans continued their coaching search on Saturday by conducting interviews with Joe Lombardi and Hines Ward.

The Texans are one of six teams with a head coaching vacancy following the firing of David Culley on Thursday. Houston ended the 2021 season with a 4-13 record.

During the 2021 campaign, Lombardi served as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. Under Lombardi, the Chargers became one of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL after averaging 27.0 points per game.

In addition to their high scoring, the Chargers recorded an average of 402.8 yards before finishing the season at 9-8.

Prior to his time as the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles, Lombardi spent five seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints, where he worked with future Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees.

Ward is the receivers coach at FAU. He also has the title of “special assistant to the head coach,” Willie Taggart.

Before joining FAU for the 2021 college football season, Ward joined the New York Jets in 2019 as the team’s offensive assistant. The Jets promoted Ward to receivers coach a year later.

Ward is a four-time Pro Bowl receiver who logged 12,083 receiving yards and 86 touchdowns throughout his 13-year playing career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At the end of the 2005 season, Ward helped the Steelers capture their fifth Super Bowl title in franchise history after ending the night with five receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XL. In the Steelers’ 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Ward won MVP honors for the night.

Following Lombardi and Ward, the Texans have now interviewed three candidates for their head coaching vacancy. Houston interviewed former Miami Dolphins’ coach Brian Flores on Friday.