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Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon has interviewed with the Houston Texans for their vacant offensive coordinator job, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday.

Nixon was hired to SU head coach Fran Brown’s debut staff ahead of the 2024 season. In his first year calling plays for the Orange’s offense, they ranked No. 1 in the country in passing with 370 air yards per game. Quarterback Kyle McCord put together a season for the record books under Nixon’s tutelage, tallying the most single-season passing yards in Atlantic Coast Conference history (4,779).

Over Nixon’s 27-year career, he’s garnered plenty of National Football League experience. He’s coached with the Philadelphia Eagles (2007-10), Miami Dolphins (2011-15), San Francisco 49ers (2016), Carolina Panthers (2020-22) and New York Giants (2023).

Much of Nixon’s time in the NFL was spent coaching running backs. He’s worked with former standouts backs like Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy and Reggie Bush, as well as current stars Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. With Syracuse, running back LeQuint Allen Jr. accumulated 1,542 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in a career year under Nixon.

The Texans fired former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik Friday after two seasons in the role. Houston won two AFC South division titles with Slowik calling plays, though its offense tumbled this past season. If hired, Nixon would get the chance to work with star quarterback and 2023 AP Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.

Nixon’s name was first floated in the NFL hiring cycle this offseason on Friday when The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain posted he could have been an option for the Chicago Bears’ previously vacant offensive coordinator job.

Published on January 27, 2025 at 7:48 pm

Contact Cooper at: ccandrew@syr.edu | @cooper_andrews