I have been an avid NFL fan for over 15 years at this point. I have always found player, coach and front office movement interesting for some odd reason. I would spend endless hours reading every last article I could find, not much has changed to this day, but in all that time I have never witnessed a GM search that contained as much drama as that of the Texans. The whole story actually started in December of 2017 when sadly Rick Smith's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. He admirably stepped down from his position as GM and took a leave of absence although he reportedly was intending to return at some point as Vice President of Football Operations. After Smith made this announcement the Texans requested interviews with 7 candidates. Brian Gaine (Bills), Joe Douglas (Eagles), Brian Gutekunst (Packers), Will McClay (Cowboys), Monti Ossenfort (Patriots), Nic Caserio (Patriots), and their own Jimmy Raye III. their list was whittled down extremely quickly when the Patriots, and Eagles denied permission for Ossenfort, Caserio, and Douglas. Then McClay declined his interview. Gutekunst, Gaine, and Raye ended up being the only candidates to interview. So the team decided to bring back Brian Gaine who had been with the team for three years prior to joining the Bills for one season.
This seemed like a case of losing out on your first few choices to prom and settling for taking your cousin. This was a marriage that had short term written all over it. However even I expected it to last longer than one calendar year. After just his second draft with the team the Texans fired Gaine. After most of the off season had gone by and most teams had filled their gm vacancies. The move seemed odd until reports of a rift between O'Brien and Gaine emerged, however I for one have a hard time blaming Gaine. I think this was a sign of buyer's remorse and this off-season has only cemented that belief. After the Texans fired Gaine they immediately requested permission to interview Nic Caserio...again...and were again denied permission. But thats when things get even more complicated. Prior to requesting an interview a Texans staff member formerly of the Patriots had been invited to a ring ceremony, where he began talking to Caserio and may have mentioned their GM opening giving the Patriots probable cause to file tampering charges, which they threatened to do, but ultimately didn't because the Texans gave up on pursuing Caserio...for now.
After ending their pursuit of Caserio there was a feeling that the team would promote from within. Perhaps Jimmy Raye III, perhaps O'Brien, etc etc. However the Texans decided on another less used option: going without a GM in 2019. Presumably because Caserio's deal ends after the 2020 draft. Meaning their pursuit of Caserio is so intense they have essentially put place holders in their GM role two years in a row simply to make an opening for this guy to be hired.
So why is Caserio so valuable? Bill Belichek has often touted him as the single most valuable front office member of the Patriots saying he didn't think anyone could fill the unique role Caserio fills in New England. His value, much like many other members of the Patriots is his versatility. He began his involvement in football as a quarterback in high school, then attending college as a qb at John Carrol University where he played with Josh McDaniels. He graduated in 1998, and went on to start coaching as a graduate assistsant in 99-00 with Saginaw Valley and 01 with Central Michigan. Before beginning his career with the Patriots as a personnel assistant. After four seasons coaching, and a business degree in his back pocket he slid over to scouting as an area scout before getting a promotion to director of pro personnel. A job he held from 04-06 before a one year stint as a WR coach in 07 in which Brady threw 50 tds before accepting his current title director of player personnel. However he is often cited as being the connection between the front office and the coaching staff with an innate ability to see how a player fits a scheme likely from his time coaching the scheme himself. He knows what the coaches want in a player and what traits to look for to fill a specific role. However it isn't likely anyone will receive the title of GM on the Patriots who isn't Belichek himself. Which is where the draw in taking the Texans job lies.
Although Bill O'Brien clearly isn't going anywhere having outlasted two GM's at this point, the perception is Caserio would have more power and a more visible title on his resume while joining a team that already has a young franchise qb and needs someone to finish building a Super Bowl contending team around him. Ideally this could be the launching pad to a hall of fame resume as an executive/coach. That may seem extreme but consider the fact that he already has 6 Super Bowl Rings with the Patriots, earning one while "running his own team" would likely cement his chances as a first ballot hall of famer while also setting himself for the next step in his progression as an executive a V.P. of football operations title. Working with O'Brien is also an attractive jump as Caserio already knows his system, and could theoretically provide the same value in pinpointing players for his scheme.
I guess time will tell what happens with this soap opera but I am guessing in the end O'Brien lands his handpicked GM after his contract expires. Even if it requires more than the $3 million it took to pry Douglas away from the Eagles for New York.
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