Lovie Smith fired by Houston Texans on final day of NFL season hours after losing No. 1 draft pick
Lovie Smith’s time with the Houston Texans came to an end late Sunday night.
In a statement, Houston Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair thanked Smith for his leadership and time with the team but announced he would not be returning as head coach in Houston.
“We are grateful for his leadership and character, and we wish him the best moving forward,” chairman and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement. “While we understand the results have not been what we had hoped for, we are committed to building a program that produces long-term, sustainable success. Our fans and city deserve a team that they can be proud of.”
The statement from Chair and CEO Cal McNair: pic.twitter.com/fPvYnkwaIY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 9, 2023
Ironically, the decision comes after a 32-31 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the regular-season finale. However, the win moved the Texans to 3-13-1 and dropped the team to the No. 2 spot in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears will hold the first overall pick in the draft after a 3-14 record.