promoted to Assistant Head Coach. On January 20, 2018, he returned to his role as defensive coordinator for the Texans after Mike Vrabel left to become head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Crennel was named the interim head coach for the Texans on October 5, 2020, after O'Brien was fired following an 0–4 start to begin the 2020 NFL season. In his first game as interim head coach, at the age of 73 years and 115 days, he became the oldest head coach in National Football League history, a game the Texans won 30–14 over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Crennel also became the Texans' first African American head coach in franchise history, albeit on an interim basis. Crennel was retained under new Texans head coach David Culley along with a new coaching staff in 2021, being given the title of senior advisor for football performance on March 10, 2021. Crennel's last game as an NFL coach was on January 9, 2022, a 25–28 loss to the Tennessee Titans, as he announced his retirement from coaching on June 6, 2022. Head coaching record * – Interim head coach Personal life Crennel had hip replacement surgery in early 2009 and decided to sit out the 2009 football season while recuperating. References External links Houston Texas profile 1947 births Living people American football defensive linemen American football offensive linemen Cleveland Browns coaches Cleveland Browns head coaches Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football coaches Houston Texans coaches Houston Texans head coaches Kansas City Chiefs coaches Kansas City Chiefs head coaches New England Patriots coaches New York Giants coaches New York Jets coaches Ole Miss Rebels football coaches Texas Tech Red Raiders football coaches Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football coaches Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football players National Football League defensive coordinators Sportspeople from Lynchburg, Virginia Coaches of American football from Virginia Players of American football from Virginia African-American coaches of American football African-American players of American football 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American sportspeople