O'Brien is promoting from within for the spot
Report: Texans to add offensive coordinator in 2019
Feb 2, 2019, 3:19 pm
Houston Texans/Facebook
The Houston Texans and Bill O'Brien are putting many Texans fans at ease with the latest report about their offensive staff.
Source tells me Tim Kelly is being promoted to become new @HoustonTexans offensive coordinator & Will Lawing is being promoted from offensive assistant/offensive line to TEs coach replacing Kelly
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) February 2, 2019
There is no word on who will call plays but this marks the second time O'Brien has had an offensive coordinator in his tenure as the Texans head coach. George Godsey was the offensive coordinator for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The past two seasons O'Brien hasn't had an offensive coordinator.
Tim Kelly was the tight ends for the Texans the past two seasons and an offensive quality control coach for three seasons before that. He was a graduate assistant with O'Brien during his Penn State tenure.
Kelly played defensive tackle at Eastern Illinois where he started all 48 games of his playing career. Eastern Illinois is a bit of a football powerhouse. It boasts Saints head coach Sean Payton, CBS announcer and former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Super Bowl champion coach Mike Shanahan, and 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as notable alumni among others.
He was also at Minnesota State-Moorhead in 2010 as the team's defensive coordinator, defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He then went to Ball State before getting to Penn State with O'Brien.
When asked about keeping his staff together after the season O'Brien said this about Kelly.
"We've got a young guy on the offensive side of the ball – I can't mention every guy – but, Timmy Kelly, somebody that guys probably haven't heard a lot about, he's an excellent football coach."
Cody's Take
I love this move. The people who know you the best are the people closest to you and Kelly has been with O'Brien for years. The people who are also the most honest with you are the people closest when you ask for their opinion and that is where the hope in Kelly lies. If he is honest with O'Brien, and the rest of the staff, his increased input could have an immediate effect on the Texans.
I believe O'Brien will keep calling the plays but if he isn't good or the offense sputters he could hand the duties over to Kelly at almost any point.
Kelly spent a little time on defense as a coach and obviously played there as a player. I really like that aspect. Also, Kelly fits the mold of young coaches rising to success on offense. He has helped with it seems like every position group so he has experience with more than just one position group on this Texans team. Sean McVay used to be a tight ends coach ya know?
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Houston advances to Final Four after defensive masterclass against Tennessee
Mar 30, 2025, 4:33 pm
Jeremy Peña homered and Yordan Alvarez got his first hit this season, a tiebreaking double in the sixth inning that lifted the Houston Astros to a 2-1 win over the New York Mets on Saturday night.
Houston took two of three in a season-opening series between 2024 playoff teams.
Spencer Arrighetti (1-0) allowed just one hit, a first-inning double to Juan Soto, and one run with five strikeouts in six innings. Astros closer Josh Hader walked Soto to start the ninth before retiring the next three batters for his second save, completing the one-hitter.
The game was tied with two outs in the sixth when Alvarez knocked a double off the wall in center field to send Isaac Paredes home from first base, putting Houston on top 2-1.
Griffin Canning (0-1) gave up four hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his Mets debut.
Canning had allowed just one hit on a leadoff single to Jose Altuve when Peña gave the Astros their first homer this season on his shot to the seats in left field with no outs in the fifth to make it 1-0.
Soto doubled with one out in the first and Brandon Nimmo walked with two outs. Arrighetti retired the next 13 batters before walking Jose Siri to start the sixth.
Siri stole second against his former team before advancing to third on a flyout by Francisco Lindor.
Soto then grounded out to Arrighetti and Siri dashed home, sliding in just before the tag to tie it at 1.
The Mets went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Key moment
The double by Alvarez that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
Canning, who spent his first five seasons with the Angels, fell to 0-4 in 10 career starts against the Astros.
Up next
Both teams are off Sunday before Houston hosts the Giants for a three-game series beginning Monday night and the Mets play at Miami that night.