Several Houston Texans players are excited Lovie Smith is the new head coach.
Many of Smith's former players in Chicago are pumped for him as well.
Brian Urlacher excelled at linebacker under Smith with the Bears and is now a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He praised the hiring of Smith.
"It's great for the Houston Texans number one," Urlacher said. "It's great for football to have him back as the head coach. He's a great leader of men. Our whole team looked up to him. He's one of those guys where you do not want to let him down: not because you're scared to get in trouble, but because the type of man he is."
The Houston Texans have hired Lovie Smith as the team's fifth head coach in franchise history.
An image from the regular season week 11 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN, on Nov. 21, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 17, 2021.
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An image from NFL regular season week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 17, 2021.
An image from the Aug. 25, 2021 Houston Texans training camp practice in Houston, TX.
An image from the Aug. 8, 2021 Houston Texans training camp practice.
An image from the regular season week 3 Thursday Night Football game between the Houston Texans and the Carolina Panthers at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Sept. 23, 2021.
An image from the Aug. 8, 2021 Houston Texans training camp practice.
An image from the regular season week 13 game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 05, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 11 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN, on Nov. 21, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 9 game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Nov. 7, 2021.
An image from the regular season week two away game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sept. 19, 2021. The Texans lost 21-31.
An image from NFL regular season week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 17, 2021.
An image from the Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars NFL week one game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Sep. 12 2021. The Texans won 37-21.
An image from the regular season week 4 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Texans at Highmark stadium in Orchard Park, NY, on Oct. 3, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 17, 2021.
An image from the Sept. 29, 2021 Houston Texans regular season practice at NRG Stadium.
An image from the Aug. 14, 2021 Texans preseason game against the Greenbay Packers. The Texans won 26-7.
An image from the regular season week 11 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN, on Nov. 21, 2021.
An image from the regular season week two away game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sept. 19, 2021. The Texans lost 21-31.
An image from the regular season week 11 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN, on Nov. 21, 2021.
An image from the July 30, 2021 Houston Texans Training Camp Practice.
An image from the July 29, 2021 Houston Texans Training Camp Practice.
An image from the regular season week 8 game against the Los Angeles Rams at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 31, 2021.
An image from the Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars NFL week one game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Sep. 12 2021. The Texans won 37-21.
An image from the Aug. 19, 2021 Houston Texans training camp practice.
Smith was the Bears Head Coach from 2004 through 2012, guiding Chicago to the Super Bowl in 2006 and to the NFC Championship game in 2010. As defensive coordinator with the Texans in 2021, Smith was forceful about forcing takeaways. LB Lance Briggs was a 7-time Pro Bowler, who picked off 16 passes, forced 16 fumbles and recovered seven more in his career. He scored six times on defense and was thrilled for his former head coach. Briggs described what the Texans will do with Smith in charge.
"Play fast, play physical, take the ball away," Briggs said. "A physical run game and a threat in the pass. Special teams will play a major factor in the success of the Texans. Every time his teams break, they break on 'World Champs'. Speak it into existence. Beat your rivals, win the AFC South, win the conference, World Champs. Big Sandy, Texas-style!"
Some of Smith's most successful Bears squads featured Devin Hester as a punt and kickoff returner. Hester is a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist this year, and he appreciated how Smith was a 'players coach'.
"He was the type of coach that was willing to hear what the players had to say and how the players felt," Hester said. "There was never a time where I was uncomfortable to go to coach Lovie about a problem. Coach Lovie was one of those guys where his door was always open to every player."
Smith and General Manager Nick Caserio will meet with the media on Tuesday morning at NRG Stadium.
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