There’s been no public report of interest since the initial Jonathan Jones reports, and many are assuming he’s no longer a candidate. But I think that might be premature. Here’s why:

1. The Connections to Early Interviews

The Texans have already interviewed multiple coaches connected to Chip Kelly. If he wasn’t in play at all, why bring in people from his coaching tree? This could be:

• Fact-finding on Kelly before an interview.
• Evaluating potential staff members if Kelly is the hire.

2. The Decision to Fire Bobby Slowik & the Need for a New Scheme

If you fire an OC because he didn’t adapt to personnel, you don’t replace him with another inexperienced coach in the same scheme. That wouldn’t make sense.

The Texans need an offense that:
✅ Moves away from the Shanahan system that didn’t fit our O-line's strengths.
✅ Uses more spread formations instead of predictable condensed sets.
✅ Simplifies pass protection rules so Stroud isn’t getting hit from overcomplicated blocking assignments.
✅ Uses more gap scheme in the run game instead of force-fitting an outside zone system.

3. Chip Kelly’s Scheme Evolution Would Fit the Texans

Many think of Kelly as a pure spread/zone-read coach, but at Ohio State (his last year there), he actually ran more gap than zone (238 gap, 210 zone).

That shows he’s evolved his system and adapts to personnel, unlike Slowik.

4. Kelly’s Experience & Connection to C.J. Stroud

Kelly is Ryan Day’s mentor and would run a version of the offense that C.J. Stroud thrived in at Ohio State. His experience over the years has taught him how to adapt—exactly what the Texans need in an OC.

Final Thoughts

I’m not saying Kelly is definitely the guy, but given:

• The Texans' early interview connections
• The scheme fit with the personnel
• His ability to adapt over time
• The need for an experienced OC

I wouldn’t rule him out just yet.

Would love to hear thoughts—what do y’all think?