With the Texans staff packed with ex-Patriots coaches, will that factor into Sunday's game?

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With the Texans staff packed with ex-Patriots coaches, will that factor into Sunday's game?

Karen Guregian · MassLive

Wed, Jan 14, 2026 ·

2 min read

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FOXBOROUGH - The list of former Patriots executives, coaches, scouts and players that are currently members of the Houston Texans is rather extensive.

Among the more notable names with ties to the Patriots are GM Nick Caserio, offensive coordinator Nick Caley, offensive line coach Cole Popovich, offensive assistant Jerry Schuplinski, offensive assistant Ben McDaniels (brother of Josh) and left tackle Trent Brown .

Caley, Popovich, Schuplinksi were coaches under Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

So both sides are well up on the tendencies of each offense.

To no surprise, the topic came up during Mike Vrabel’s Wednesday press conference ahead of Sunday’s Divisional Round matchup with the Texans.

Vrabel was asked specifically about Caley’s offense, and if there was some similarities with the offense the Patriots are running with McDaniels.

“I think there’s some carryover,” Vrabel said. “There’s some LA stuff (where Caley was before Houston), there’s some stuff he probably learned when he was here, and then what you do is, you come in with a base idea, you start in the run game, and then protection, and then whatever ideas the new coaches have, you kind of formulate and figure out what fits and what everyone’s comfortable with.

“So I’m sure there’s elements of every stop that some of those guys have made.”

Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs was a member of the Texans last year, so while Caley brought in a new offense, he has a feel for Houston’s defense having practiced against it. The Patriots also just signed former Texans edge rusher Darell Taylor.

Whether all of the inside knowledge floating around will have much, if any impact on either side is debatable. Vrabel’s answer essentially downplayed that storyline.

Here’s a full list of Texans with Patriots ties:

Nick Caserio: GM

Steve Cargile: Executive

Shane Vereen : Player Personnel Asst.

Nick Caley: OC

Cole Popovich: OL Coach

Jerry Schuplinski: Offensive Asst.

Jake Andrews : Center

Trent Brown: OT

Myles Bryant : DB

Braxton Berrios : WR

Ben McDaniels: Josh’s brother, offensive assistant

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