2020 Regular Season
A season of turmoil: O'Brien fired, Crennel takes over, and the Texans finish 4–12.
The 2020 season was the Houston Texans' 19th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their seventh and final season under head coach Bill O'Brien. Following their first 0–4 start since 2008 and the trade of DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals, the Texans fired O'Brien on October 5, 2020. Romeo Crennel was later named as interim head coach and broke the record for oldest NFL head coach in history at 73 years and 112 days old.
Quick Facts
- Head coach
- David Culley
- Quarterback
- Deshaun Watson
- Final record
- 4-12
- Division standing
- Last in AFC South
- Playoff result
- Did not qualify
- Key departure
- J.J. Watt (Free Agency)
Lore & Background
The Texans failed to match or improve their 10–6 record from the previous year and failed to win 10 or more games for the first time since the 2017 season. They were eliminated from playoff contention after a Week 14 loss to the Chicago Bears and suffered their first losing season since 2017. This was also the first season since 2012 that DeAndre Hopkins was not on the roster, as he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason. The season was stained with drama primarily consisting of trade rumors about Deshaun Watson and J. J. Watt and locker room issues. The Texans lost many close games, with 8 of their 12 losses being decided by one score.
Reader's Guide
The Texans' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7. The preseason schedule was announced on May 7 but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The regular season included games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars (twice), Tennessee Titans (twice), Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts (twice), Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tennessee Titans. Intra-division opponents are in bold text in the schedule.
Did You Know?
- The Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round selection to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a second-round selection, running back David Johnson, and a fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft.
- Deshaun Watson's final game as a Texan was on January 2, 2021, a 41–38 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
- The Texans traded their 2020 first-round selection, plus future picks, to the Miami Dolphins for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills.
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