A showdown is looming inside the Houston Texans organization when head coach Bill O'Brien and general manager Rick Smith meet Monday with team owner Bob McNair.
A source told Sporting News that O'Brien is planning to pitch a he-goes-or-I-go scenario to McNair because of the ongoing friction in his working relationship with Smith. O'Brien also will push to have input in the hiring of a Smith replacement so he can have more say in personnel decisions, the source said.
From a contractual standpoint, O'Brien has limited leverage since one year remains on his Texans deal. Smith also had his contract extended last year through the 2020 season.
However, McNair may feel inclined to choose between O'Brien and Smith if the team owner believes the longstanding issues between the two cannot be resolved.
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At 4-11 entering Sunday's game against the Colts, the Texans are set to finish with their worst record of O'Brien's four-year coaching tenure. But mitigating factors are the season-ending injuries that led to the loss of key players like defensive end J.J. Watt, outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus and quarterback Deshaun Watson, who had emerged as a strong candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during an early November practice.
O'Brien may be trying to force the issue with McNair knowing he could be in demand as a head coach elsewhere considering the sizable number of upcoming vacancies expected. The Texans won the AFC South title the past two seasons and were 9-7 in each of O'Brien's first three years on the job.
Smith has served as Houston's general manager since 2006. The Texans have finished with a losing record only four times since then while also making four playoff appearances.
Houston, though, has never reached an AFC championship game. The franchise began play under McNair's ownership in 2002.
