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Houston Texans to promote Mike Vrabel to DC, keep Romeo Crennel

By The Sports Xchange

The Houston Texans are planning to promote linebackers coach Mike Vrabel to defensive coordinator to replace Romeo Crennel, who is expected to stay with the team as assistant head coach, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

The Washington Redskins were interested in talking to Crennel about their vacant defensive coordinator position, but were denied permission, a source told ESPN's Adam Caplan.

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Crennel has been the Texans' defensive coordinator for the past three seasons and his contract was set to expire next Tuesday.

The news of Vrabel's promotion was first reported by The MMQB.com.

Mike Vrabel with the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII Media Day on January 29, 2007. Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI
The 41-year-old Vrabel spent 14 seasons as a linebacker in the NFL and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2007 with the New England Patriots. He won three Super Bowl championships while with the Patriots.

After retiring, Vrabel joined the Ohio State coaching staff for three seasons before being hired by the Texans in 2014 to join head coach Bill O'Brien's staff.

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Vrabel turned down an offer from then-San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly to be his defensive coordinator last January.

The 69-year-old Crennel was the Cleveland Browns' head coach from 2005 to 2008. He joined the Texans in 2014. Crennel was Vrabel's defensive coordinator with the Patriots from 2001 to 2004.

The Texans' defense finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the NFL in total defense despite losing three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, who was put on injured reserve before the Week 4 game.

The Texans fired offensive coordinator George Godsey on Monday, two days after the Texans' 34-16 AFC divisional playoff loss to the Patriots.

O'Brien plans to call the plays next season and not hire an offensive coordinator to replace Godsey, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Godsey and O'Brien collaborated on play-calling duties for the 2016 season

Wide receivers coach Sean Ryan will switch to coaching quarterbacks and offensive assistant Pat O'Hara will continue to work with the quarterbacks, according to the newspaper. Godsey was the primary quarterbacks coach during the last three seasons.

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The Texans ranked 29th in total offense and 31st in red-zone offense. They were 28th in scoring. The Texans scored 25 touchdowns -- 23 on offense. It was the lowest output for a playoff team in a non-strike season since the NFL expanded its season to 16 games in 1978.

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