Houston Texans executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby was fired after four seasons with the organization Monday.

Easterby was hired by the franchise in 2019 after serving a utility role with the New England Patriots, where he served various departments and at one point was the team’s chaplain.

Texans CEO Cal McNair said Easterby had significant influence in the organization and was critical in the team’s hiring processes and personnel pecking order. He was instrumental in the Texans’ hiring of general manager Nick Caserio and head coach Lovie Smith.

“I met with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Jack Easterby and we have mutually agreed to part ways,” McNair said in a statement. “For the remainder of the season, effective immediately, his responsibilities will be absorbed by our Football Operations staff.”

The 39-year-old Easterby was viewed as an ally for McNair, who defined his role as “responsible for the vision and oversight of the organization’s football operations, which includes athlete performance, Texans football facilities, team development, sports medicine as well as football technology and decision sciences. His role also includes the oversight of the football operations budget and the development of all football operations system curriculum.”

Easterby and Caserio worked together with the Patriots.

The Texans (1-3-1) are on their third head coach, Smith, in three seasons and the Houston Chronicle reported a power struggle between Easterby and then-coach Bill O’Brien led to Houston making the change in October 2020. O’Brien was also serving as the team’s general manager at the time and traded wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson and a second-round pick.

–Field Level Media