First-year head coaches sometimes face the onerous challenge of assembling a full coaching staff before they can begin work. Frequently, this entails dismantling the previous staff and bringing in numerous new coaches to begin again. Coaches may rely on connections from prior jobs, industry contacts, and traditional interview techniques. They may also decide to keep specific coaches from the previous staff. DeMeco Ryans, the Houston Texans’ head coach, used that approach when he retained defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire.
Cesaire worked with incumbent head coach Love Smith throughout the 2022 season. Ryans chose to rely on continuity because Houston’s team was primarily made up of inexperienced defensive players in their early stages of development. However, it became evident this week that Cesaire will not be returning to the staff in 2024. His contract expired, and the Texans decided to let him go free.
On Saturday, the Cleveland Browns hired Cesaire as their defensive line coach, a lateral move to replace Ben Bloom. Cesaire spent nearly a decade as a defensive tackle with the San Diego Chargers before joining Houston’s coaching staff. From 2015 until 2019, he was the defensive line coach there. Cesaire then joined the Buffalo Bills as Eric Washington’s assistant defensive line coach for the following two seasons.
His two years in Houston were pretty productive. The Texans were 18th in sacks in 2022, with 39, and they improved on that number in 2023. Their 46 sacks placed thirteenth in the league. Adding a talented edge rusher like Will Anderson Jr. helps, but Cesaire also monitored Jonathan Greenard’s growth.
This season, Houston struggled to form a cohesive pass rush early on, but the entire team appeared to gel as the playoffs neared. Now, he’ll shift from one star to another, overseeing Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, probably the finest defensive player in the league.
