(AP Photo)(AP) – The NFL expanded the Rooney Rule to give more minority candidates opportunities to become a head coach and reward teams who develop them. The Houston Texans hired David Culley this week, making the 65-year-old longtime assistant the league’s third Black head coach hired. Culley and Saleh join Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Miami’s Brian Flores and Washington’s Ron Rivera as the league’s only minority head coaches. “We didn’t make as much progress on the head coaching side as we would have liked,” Rooney said. AdPerhaps an increase in minority executives will lead to more minority head coaches.

HOUSTON – David Culley became the coach of the Houston Texans believing Deshaun Watson would be his quarterback. “The reason I’m in this position today is because I knew he’s going to be a Houston Texan," Culley said. The only other minority candidate who was hired as a head coach this offseason was the New York Jets’ Robert Saleh, the league’s first Muslim head coach. “We have added a very well respected and experienced member to our Texans' family in our new head coach, David Culley," McNair said. The 65-year-old Culley becomes the fourth coach in Texans history, replacing Bill O’Brien, who was fired after the team opened the season 0-4.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson speaks during a news conference following an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. Star quarterback Deshaun Watson has requested a trade from the Houston Texans, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)HOUSTON – Star quarterback Deshaun Watson has requested a trade from the Houston Texans, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press. The same source who told The AP about the trade request said Watson made the ask before Culley’s hire. The only other minority candidate who was hired as a head coach this offseason was the New York Jets' Robert Saleh, the league's first Muslim American head coach.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)While Matt Nagy gets to coach Chicago in the playoffs despite a middling 8-8 record that could help save his job, former Bears coach Lovie Smith can only wonder if the extra team in the postseason could have helped him eight years ago. Smith’s Bears teams from the beginning of last decade are near the top of that list. Chicago lost five of six and missed the postseason as the seventh seed with an 8-8 mark. The tough-luck missing playoff team that season was the Giants, who missed out the year before Eli Manning and Co. won their second Super Bowl under coach Tom Coughlin.

HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have two games left in the season but the search for a new General Manager and Head Coach continue to develop. The latest to interview for the head coach slot is Jim Caldwell who led both the Colts and Lions. Caldwell’s most recent success came in Detroit where he was the Lions Head Coach from 2014 through 2017 leading the Lions to two playoff appearances. With the Colts Caldwell went 36-28 while in charge from 2009-2011. Caldwell, who’s background is on the offensive side, was fired after the 2011 season but Caldwell’s run in Indy included leading the Colts to the Super Bowl in 2009.