DAVID CULLEY

Mike Tomlin did not hire Brian Flores as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers out of sympathy for the former Miami Dolphins head coach.

Brian Flores is back in the NFL.

NEW YORK — (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and a few team owners and executives met Thursday with civil rights leaders, who urged the league to make drastic changes to its hiring practices to improve diversity in leadership positions. National Urban League president and CEO Marc H. Morial told the group the NFL's focus on racial equity and social justice recently hasn't yet resulted in improved hiring procedures for the league's head coaches. The civil rights leaders challenged the league to set measurable goals for recruiting and hiring diverse candidates. The meeting Thursday was a continuation of a discussion that began last week, when the civil rights leaders called for the NFL's to replace the Rooney Rule. It was established in 2003 and requires teams to interview candidates of color for head coaching and senior football operation positions.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and a few team owners and executives met with civil rights leaders who urged the league to make drastic changes to its hiring practices to improve diversity in leadership positions.

The Rooney Rule, a policy that went into effect in 2003, requires NFL teams to interview candidates of color for head coaching and senior operation vacancies.

A group of civil rights leaders called for replacing the Rooney Rule in a meeting Monday with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

HOUSTON — (AP) — The Houston Texans are expected to hire Lovie Smith as their head coach, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity Monday because the team had not announced that Smith would be hired. Smith spent last season as Houston’s associate head coach and defensive coordinator. The 63-year-old Smith joined the Texans last offseason after spending 2016-2020 as the coach at Illinois. Smith will become the fifth head coach in franchise history, following Dom Capers, Gary Kubiak, Bill O’Brien and Culley.

Lovie Smith has been hired as the new head coach of the Houston Texans.

HOUSTON — (AP) — The Houston Texans are in talks with assistant coach Lovie Smith for their head coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the meetings told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the team had not announced that Smith had interviewed for the job. The 63-year-old Smith is currently the Texans' associate head coach and defensive coordinator. Smith, who is also Black, coached the Chicago Bears for nine seasons and coached Tampa Bay for two seasons ending in 2015. ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

The Houston Texans are in talks with assistant coach Lovie Smith for their head coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the meetings told The Associated Press.

The NFL's Rooney Rule set out to correct inequities at the top of pro football's hierarchy. But today, there are still few minorities in head coaching positions.

Geoff Cornish discussed what buildings on Mars would look like to stand up to the challenges of colonizing the planet like with doctors José Duarte and Sven Bilén, the co-founders of AddCon Lab.

A day after the U.S. ambassador to Russia hand delivered a written response to the Kremlin's demands, Russia said the U.S. has not addressed its main concerns as tensions mount over Ukraine. Holly Williams reports.

New Mexico has called on the National Guard to fill in for teachers as schools struggle with staffing shortages due to COVID-19. Kris Van Cleave takes a look.

Passers-by in Kyiv show little sign of being intimidated by Russia's ongoing military build-up on the border with Ukraine. Although one man says that "wars are to be expected, especially from Moscow", others believe that Russia will not risk a full-scale invasion, with one Kyivan calling Putin "not quite insane enough" to carry out the threat.

Six-year-old Zion was upset that his parents were buying him a coat, not the sneakers he wanted. Then he saw a "giant man" standing over him. It was Shaquille O' Neal, who gave him some words of wisdom about listening to his parents – then bought him a gift.

Members of the U.S. National Guard took part in Winter Strike, a cold-weather, all-domain training, allowing participants to enhance their Arctic warfare capabilities.

FOX Sports reporter Tom Rinaldi provides insight into the upcoming NFL Conference championship games, the final playoff games leading up to the 2022 Super Bowl. Play the Fox Bet Super 6 'Stack the Cash' contest for a chance to win big cash prize!

Recent firings underscore the double standards and unrealistic expectations.

“Any criticism we get for lack of representation at the GM and head coach positions, we deserve,” NFL senior VP and chief diversity and inclusion officer Jonathan Beane told the AP. The Fritz Pollard Alliance, which advocates for diverse hiring in the NFL, said in a statement Friday that firing of Flores and Culley is a "disappointment given efforts to increase the representation of Black coaches as head coaches in the NFL. The league had seven Black head coaches in 2017 but there’s been steady regression despite heightened awareness and the various enhancements. “When people are tuned into our game, the head coach, the quarterback and the referee have the cameras on them,” Vincent said. Black coordinators get fewer opportunities to prove they can be head coaches.

The NFL has taken several steps to improve diversity among leadership positions, yet Mike Tomlin is the only Black head coach after Brian Flores and David Culley were fired this week.

Texans 49ers Football Houston Texans head coach David Culley watches from the sideline during the first half of his team's NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) (Jed Jacobsohn)HOUSTON — (AP) — Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio on Friday defended his decision to fire head coach David Culley after just one season, citing differences in opinion about the organization’s path forward. The Texans announced the firings of Culley and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly on Thursday night following a 4-13 season. A month after Culley joined the Texans, longtime star defensive end J.J. Watt asked for his release from the team. Caserio said there’s no timeline on hiring the next head coach and that the organization will be thorough and patient.

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio says it was his decision to fire head coach David Culley after just one season.

Titans Texans Football Houston Texans head coach David Culley questions a call during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith)HOUSTON — (AP) — David Culley spent 43 years as a college and NFL assistant before finally getting his first head coaching job with the Houston Texans. He lasted just one season before being fired Thursday, a move that leaves the NFL with one Black head coach: Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin. “I loved every minute of being the head coach of the Houston Texans,” Culley said in a statement. Culley was hired after spending 2019-20 as assistant head coach, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.

Titans Texans Football Houston Texans head coach David Culley questions a call during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith)HOUSTON — (AP) — The Houston Texans have fired coach David Culley after just one season, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The 66-year-old Culley was hired last January to replace Bill O’Brien after spending 43 years as a college and NFL assistant. Culley was hired after spending 2019-2020 as assistant head coach, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

The Houston Texans have fired coach David Culley after just one season.

NFL executive Troy Vincent hopes hiring minority candidates becomes so common that the Rooney Rule is unnecessary.

Colts Texans Football Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) is sacked by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (97) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith)The Latest from Week 13 of the NFL (all times EST):___3:15 p.m.Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been benched in the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts. Jefferson has 72 receptions for 1,112 yards this season and 160 catches for 2,512 yards in his two-year career. Murray also joined Cam Newton as the only players in NFL history with at least 10,000 yards passing and 1,500 rushing. For the Bengals, linebacker Logan Wilson (right shoulder) and Markus Bailey (left shoulder) also left the game.

HOUSTON — (AP) — The Houston Texans canceled practice and all other in-person activities Wednesday on the advice of their medical team because some players weren’t feeling well. Coach David Culley said they have not had any positive COVID-19 tests. Culley, speaking to reporters via Zoom, said that the team would resume normal operations Thursday. Players were told to stay home Wednesday and all team meetings were to be held virtually. “We’ve had so much practice at this, that whether you’re virtual or doing in-person meetings, that doesn’t really matter,” he said.

The Houston Texans canceled practice and all in-person activities Wednesday on the advice of their medical team because some players weren’t feeling well.

Texans Browns Football Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) (Ron Schwane)HOUSTON — (AP) — Rookie Davis Mills will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers with Tyrod Taylor out with a hamstring injury. Culley said the Texans plan to elevate Jeff Driskel from the practice squad to back up Mills against the Panthers (2-0). Mills, a third-round pick from Stanford, took over and threw for 102 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He said the Texans (1-1) could explore signing another quarterback next week if Taylor remains out.

Rookie Davis Mills will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers with Tyrod Taylor out with a hamstring injury.

Texans Browns Football Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) (Ron Schwane)HOUSTON — (AP) — Houston quarterback Tyrod Taylor is day to day with a hamstring injury as the Texans face a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game against Carolina. Culley said Taylor was getting on MRI on Monday and that the team would know more about his availability afterward. “If he’s able to go and ready to go, he’ll play,” Culley said. If Taylor can’t play Thursday, the Texans likely will bring up Jeff Driskel from the practice squad to back up Mills.

Houston quarterback Tyrod Taylor is day to day with a hamstring injury as the Texans face a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game against Carolina.

Tyrod Taylor threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns filling in for Deshaun Watson to lead the Houston Texans to a 37-21 win over Trevor Lawrence and the mistake-prone Jacksonville Jaguars.

HOUSTON — (AP) — Deshaun Watson returned to practice with the Houston Texans on Monday after not taking part in workouts for almost a week. Watson reported to camp on time and was on the field for the team’s first five days of practice, participating in individual drills only. He continued to be absent from practice until Monday when he trotted onto the field with the rest of the team. He only worked during individual drills and went into the indoor practice facility after the first five periods of work. Watson signed a four-year, $156 million contract extension with the Texans last offseason and led the NFL in yards passing last season.

Deshaun Watson returned to practice with the Houston Texans after not taking part in workouts for almost a week.

FILE - In this Dec. 27, 2020, file photo, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson throws a pass during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Houston. New Houston Texans coach David Culley reiterated Thursday, March 11, 2021, that the team has no intention of trading Watson, despite the star quarterbacks request to be dealt. “We are very committed to Deshaun as our quarterback,” Culley said. Culley said they do not have a contingency plan at quarterback if Watson decides to hold out if he isn’t traded. Asked if Watson was committed to him and the team, Culley replied: “Yes, he is.”When pushed about how he knows that, Culley didn’t provide any details indicating Watson has told him that.

J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans have "mutually agreed to part ways," ending the tenure of the face of the franchise and adding another huge change to an offseason filled with upheaval. I want to thank the McNair family for drafting me and giving me my first opportunity in the NFL. Thank you, Houston." Watt said Houston fans have always treated him like family -- except draft night when they booed him, he joked -- and he truly feels like they're part of his family. "The city of Houston has been unbelievable to me," Watt said.

(AP Photo)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.

FILE - This is an Aug. 17, 2020, file photo showing David Culley of the Baltimore Ravens NFL football team. David Culley has been hired as the coach of the Houston Texans, a person familiar with the hiring told The Associated Press. (AP Photo)HOUSTON – David Culley became the coach of the Houston Texans believing Deshaun Watson would be his quarterback. “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.