May 24, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans helmets lay on the turf during organized team activities at the Houston Texans practice field. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings will need a new assistant quarterbacks coach for the 2023 season as one man was reportedly pilfered by DeMeco Ryans’ Houston Texans on Super Bowl Sunday.
That man is Jerrod Johnson, and ESPN’s Mike Garafolo tweeted Sunday, “The Texans are hiring Jerrod Johnson as QBs coach, sources say. The Houston native, an Eagles undrafted free agent as a player, is on the rise as a coach and takes a step up after serving as the Vikings’ assistant QBs coach this past season.”
Ryans took over as head coach in Houston on January 31st after the club controversially parted ways with Lovie Smith following just one full season.
Various Vikings coaches are receiving attention around the league for offensive coordinator consideration, too. Brian Angelichio and Keenan McCardell have interviewed for jobs with the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And now Johnson is the first hire domino, apparently accepting the Texans gig.
Johnson also interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers a couple of weeks ago after Chargers skipper Brandon Staley fired 2022 offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
The homegrown Houstonian, Johnson, joined the Vikings staff less than a year ago when Minnesota welcomed new head coach Kevin O’Connell from the Los Angeles Rams. Before the recent Vikings gig, Johnson was the Indianapolis Colts offensive quality control coach.
While Johnson was interviewing with Houston last week, Aaron Wilson from KPRC 2 Houston described the situation, “A former Elite 11 quarterback, Johnson has also coached for the San Francisco 49ers under a Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship. He was promoted two years ago to his previous role with the Colts. He interviewed two years ago for the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterbacks coaching position.”
Johnson played eight years of quasi-professional football (NFL, CFL, IFL, and UFL) before turning to coaching. He last appeared in the NFL during practice-squad stops with the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in 2016. And at Texas A&M over a decade ago, Johnson was a Consensus 2nd-Team All-Big 12 in 2009. He played basketball for the Aggies, as well.
With Johnson’s assistance, the Vikings passing game ranked 15th leaguewide in 2022 per passing DVOA. The Texans offense ranked 31st in the same metric and 31st per overall offense DVOA in 2022. Houston is expected to draft a quarterback with the 2nd overall pick in April, although the identity of that young passer is unclear. Johnson will be tasked with developing that player.
The Texans are expected to hire Matt Burke as defensive coordinator and Bobby Slowik as offensive coordinator.
Houston has finished seasons with 3-13-1, 4-13, and 4-12 records since the start of 2020 — right around the time the Deshaun Watson experience spoiled. Before 2020, Houston reached the postseason in four of five seasons from 2015 to 2019.
A Vikings replacement for Johnson is not immediately known.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.