After quickly rising up the coaching levels in four seasons with the Texans, the NFL’s youngest coordinator has found
a new home.
Kyle Shanahan, who led the league’s most prolific passing offense in 2009, is leaving his role as Texans offensive
coordinator to assume the same job with the Washington Redskins. His father, Mike Shanahan, was unveiled as the
Redskins’ new head coach on Wednesday afternoon.
“When I got into coaching, I made it a point not to work with my dad,” stated Kyle. “I wanted to avoid it for a while
until I could achieve some success on my own.
“The way things transpired for him in Denver, with his firing and everything (in 2008), made me realize I can’t be
too choosy. I’ll only have so many opportunities to coach him before he’s done.
“After he was dismissed in Denver, I assured him that if he decided to return, I would accompany him. Before I’m
done and before he’s done, I want to work with him, and I believe it’s now or never.
Kyle, who was packing out his office at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday with the help of his two-year-old daughter
Stella, expressed excitement but mixed emotions about the relocation.
“It’s really tough for me to leave here, a lot of players a lot of coaches that I really love,” he told reporters. “I love the
city, and it will be difficult to leave Texas. But I believe it is the proper thing to do for my family, and I am looking
forward to it.
In 2009, the Texans had the league’s fourth-best offensive, setting team records for points and yards. Shanahan
coached the league’s leading passer, Matt Schaub, and its leading receiver, Andre Johnson.
“That’s kind of what makes it hard for me to leave,” he remarked. “I really don’t have a choice in the timing of it.”
