Texans interview former Steelers WR Hines Ward for head-coaching vacancy

The list of candidates who have interviewed to become head coach of the Houston Texans received an odd addition Saturday when the team announced it spoke to Hines Ward about the vacancy.

Ward, 45, played 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers — earning four trips to the Pro Bowl — before retiring in the 2012 offseason. While it's been a decade since his NFL career ended, Ward only recently entered the coaching ranks. He joined the Steelers coaching staff as an intern in 2017 and later spent two seasons as an offensive assistant for the New York Jets before joining the Florida Atlantic University coaching staff in 2021.

Ward was hired as a special assistant to head coach Willie Taggart, but he was promoted to wide receivers coach in November. FAU finished 5-7 in Ward's first season on the coaching staff.

The Texans announced two other interviewees, but the other candidates were much less surprising than Ward. The team interviewed former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores and current Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.

Houston finished 4-13 and fired coach David Culley on Thursday after only one season on the job.